First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out–
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out–
because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out–
because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out–
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me–
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Words to live by, History remembered, shared
Thursday, February 27, 2014
FW: NCDP CLIPS FEBRUARY 27, 2014
Thought I would share this email with my blog readers
NCDP CLIPS
FEBRUARY 27, 2014
KAY HAGAN
As he hits Kay Hagan on healthcare, Thom Tillis is facing tough questions about his stance
As conservatives hammer Democratic U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan on the failures of the federal health care law, her chief Republican rival is getting squeezed from both sides of the political spectrum on the issue. Thom Tillis, who is leading the GOP’s Senate hopefuls in fundraising and early polling, was criticized in a TV ad earlier this month for wanting to repeal the federal health care law’s more popular items, such as provisions that prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage for preexisting conditions and charging for mammograms.
Morning Memo: GOP field to challenge Hagan increases to 7
The field of Republican candidates vying to challenge Democrat Kay Hagan increased to seven this week. In an unexpected move, AP reports Lexington attorney Jim Snyder, a recent three-time candidate, filed to run Tuesday. He is likely to fit in the pack of candidates to the political right of House Speaker Thom Tillis. Snyder said he entered the race because other candidates haven't been talking about past trade agreements that led to job closings across the state and the banking crisis at the start of the past recession. A social conservative, Snyder said abortion isn't being discussed enough, either.
NORTH CAROLINA
Politico Magazine: North Carolina’s Civil War
One month into his term last year, Gov. Pat McCrory signed a bill cutting unemployment benefits. By the time the legislature’s session ended in August, the state seemed like a new place. In six months, lawmakers passed gun laws that allowed permit-holders to carry concealed weapons into bars and onto playgrounds, and they slipped more restrictive abortion measures into a bill about motorcycle safety, and passed that, too. The state rejected Medicaid expansion called for under the Affordable Care Act, and 500,000 people who would have been eligible for benefits on Jan. 1 weren’t.
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/02/north-carolinas-civil-war-103962.html#ixzz2uXeWNua2
News & Observer: NC proposes experimental health networks for Medicaid patients
State officials rolled out a plan Wednesday for changes in the state Medicaid program that are a huge step away from the managed-care proposal Gov. Pat McCrory and top state Department of Health and Human Services officials pitched last year.
The new proposal avoids a fight with doctors, hospitals and other health care providers over the future of the $13 billion government health insurance program that covers about 1.7 million poor children and their parents, elderly people and disabled people.
http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/02/26/3656791/state-proposes-experimental-health.html#storylink=cpy
News & Observer: Clay Aiken officially joins NC Congress race
RALEIGH, N.C. — Former "American Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken says he's running for Congress in North Carolina because he believes he can help end the gridlock in Washington. The singer officially filed candidacy papers Thursday to run for the state's 2nd Congressional District currently held by Republican Renee Ellmers. Aiken announced his bid three weeks ago. His first job is to try to win the Democratic primary in May.
http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/02/27/3658190/clay-aiken-officially-joining.html#storylink=cpy
NC Libertarians getting US Senate primary, too
RALEIGH, N.C. —It looks like North Carolina Libertarians will have a U.S. Senate primary this year, too.Two Libertarian candidates filed Wednesday for the party's nomination -- Sean Haugh of Durham and Tim D'Annunzio of Raeford. Their candidacies bring to 11 the number of people running so far for Democratic U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan's seat, including Hagan herself. The Democrats and Republicans also will have May primaries.
NATIONAL
Washington Post: Reid: Koch brothers are ‘un-American’
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Wednesday that the conservative Koch brothers are "un-American."
Responding to ads being run by a Koch-backed group against Obamacare, Reid said the ads go too far and that Charles and David Koch are trying to "buy" America.
"It's too bad that they're trying to buy America, and it's time that the American people spoke out against this terrible dishonesty of these two brothers who are about as un-American as anyone I can imagine," Reid said on the Senate floor.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/02/27/reid-koch-brothers-are-un-american/
Washington Post: Report: Almost 4 million with mental illness won’t be covered in states that don’t expand Medicaid
States that decide not to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act will leave more than 3.7 million Americans with mental illness without health-care coverage, according to a new report from an organization that represents mental health professionals.
Almost one in five Americans between the ages of 18-34 who live without health insurance and make less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level suffer from serious psychological distress, the report by the American Mental Health Counselors Association says. In states that opt to expand Medicaid under the ACA, those people would be eligible for coverage that includes mental health treatment.
Washington Post: Arizona governor vetoes bill on denying services to gays
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) vetoed a controversial bill Wednesday that would have allowed businesses in the state to deny service to gays and lesbians if they felt that serving them would violate their religious rights. Gay rights advocates had denounced the legislation, labeling it a form of legalized discrimination, and Arizona’s two GOP senators and leading Republican candidates for governor had urged Brewer to veto the bill. Several GOP state legislators who had voted for the measure last week have said since then that it was not the right thing to do. In an evening appearance before reporters in Phoenix, Brewer said the bill “does not address a specific or pressing concern” and is not part of her agenda.
FROM PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON: SUPPORT THE VOTER EXPANSION PROJECT
Voting is one of the most fundamental rights in our democracy. That's why we're launching the Voter Expansion Project. We’re leading the charge to expand the vote, because it's not enough anymore for us to simply protect against voting restrictions. Join President Bill Clinton and the Democratic Party in our fight to protect and expand the right to vote.
FOLLOW THE LINK HERE:
Paid for by North Carolina Democratic Party. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee. |
220 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC 27603
Come Clean, McCrory! Press Conference & Rally
4:45pm until 6:00pm Face book event link here https://www.facebook.com/events/482483245196738/
· | Toxic coal ash from one of Duke Energy's 32 toxic coal ash lagoons has poisoned the Dan River. Now is the time to finally come clean. Gov. Pat McCrory's administration should stop treating polluters as "partners" and "customers." Duke Energy must clean up the Dan River and all of its toxic coal ash lagoons - at no cost to tax-payers or electricity rate-payers. McCrory must protect our water supplies. And Gov. McCrory must come clean on his own personal financial ties to Duke Energy. Disclose the conflicts of interest. Disclose the value of his Duke Energy company stock. Disclose all information turned over to a federal grand jury, as the U.S. Attorney is now investigating. |
ORANGE COUNTY EARNS STABLE BOND RATING OUTLOOK
Media Contact
Tonya Walton
Budget and Management Analyst
Phone: 919.245.2153
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ORANGE COUNTY EARNS STABLE BOND RATING OUTLOOK
ORANGE COUNTY, NC (February 26, 2014)—Orange County has been assigned an ‘AAA’ rating by Fitch, Inc. This is the highest possible bond rating the County can obtain.
The Triple-A rating applies to the following Orange County bonds:
- $86.2 million General Obligation (GO) bonds (various series) at 'AAA'
- $14.3 million Certificates of Participation (COPs), series 2006 at 'AA+'
Boehner says Republicans will lead, but backs away from votes
News from The Hill
By Russell Berman
Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Thursday defended the House GOP’s go-slow approach on immigration, tax reform and replacing ObamaCare, saying the party wanted to avoid repeating mistakes Democrats made and had to face the “reality” of its limited power in Washington.
The Speaker began his weekly Capitol press conference by attacking President Obama for intending to “pack it in for the year” and said Republicans would, by contrast, demonstrate leadership by presenting an alternative vision to the country.
ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNOUNCES
Media Contacts
Lucinda Munger, Director
Orange County Public Library
Phone: 919.245.2525
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNOUNCES
MARCH KID AND TEEN PROGRAMS
ORANGE COUNTY, NC (February 27, 2014)—Orange County Public Library (OCPL) invites youth of all ages to participate in a variety of free and fun activities in March. From LEGOs, storytimes, and science experiments, to gaming and crafts, there’s something for everyone!
The following events are all held at the OCPL Main Library at 137 W. Margaret Lane in Hillsborough, unless otherwise noted.
Head of NC Legislature's Education Taskforce Claims North Carolina Does Not Have the Funding to Pay Its Teachers and Fund Its Schools - But the Evidence Says Otherwise
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 2014
For more information: Atty. Jamie Phillips Cole, Public Policy Coordinator, 919.682.4700
Sarah Bufkin, Media Coordinator, 404.285.3413
Head of NC Legislature's Education Taskforce Claims North Carolina Does Not Have the Funding to Pay Its Teachers and Fund Its Schools - But the Evidence Says Otherwise
RALEIGH - State Sen. Jerry Tillman, a leading GOP lawmaker and the head of a newly created legislative task force on education funding, told an assembly of concerned educators, parents and community leaders on Feb. 25 that North Carolina lacked the funding to provide better compensation for all its teachers.
When discussing a proposal pushed by extremists in the General Assembly to lure 25 percent of North Carolina's teachers away from their tenured-track positions with $500 a year bonuses, Tillman said that the state could only find the money to make that offer to a quarter of the state's public school teachers.
See who has file to run for public office
 | Katy (@katys) |
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@JTS72 @shrewsy @kayhagan @thomtillis Have you seen the list of those who have filed? ncsbe.gov/ncsbe/Portals/…
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