Has this been a great weekend or what? It’s nice to have a bit of a breather over the health care shenanigans in DC. It doesn’t mean we can let our guard down, but for a few moments we can do the happy dance.

If you’d like to send a thank you postcard to the three Republican senators who helped keep the ACA intact for now, here are their addresses:

Senator Susan Collins: 68 Sewall Street, Room 507, Augusta, ME 04330

Senator John McCain: 2201 East Camelback Road, Suite 115, Phoenix, AZ 85016

Senator Lisa Murkowski: 510 L Street, Suite 600, Anchorage, AK 99501

 

See Jen Hoffman’s weekly Americans of Conscience checklist for other calls to action. She’s always on the ball and has great stuff.

It’s time to turn our eye toward our own state. We all know about the racial gerrymandering done by our Republican-led General Assembly. One Republican Representative, David Lewis of Harnett County was quoted last year as saying they were drawing up maps to election 10 Republicans and 3 Democrats, “because I do not believe it’s possible to draw a map with 11 Republicans and two Democrats.” 

Heads of the GOP have confirmed that they will be using the same mapmaker who made the racially gerrymandered maps to create their new, court ordered maps. Tom Hofeller, a GOP consultant involved in the same mapmaking process back in 2011 has been tapped to carry out what will likely be more gerrymandering of our state in order to try and stall the process until after next years elections. Most people, including the editorial board of the Raleigh News & Observer agree that they are stalling for time and, in true Trumpian fashion, are making a mockery of our democratic institutions.

They’ve been in contempt of court since at least that first “special session” last year. If they won’t heed the court’s ruling then do what would be done for any of the rest of us lowly constituents down here at the bottom: issue a warrant for arrest. Haul them in, seize their assets and throw them in jail to await trial. In the meantime, the court should appoint a non-partisan committee to draw the new lines. If you or I failed to follow a court order for this long, this is exactly what would happen to us. Why are the Senators and Representatives in Raleigh considered immune to justice?

Call your legislators in Raleigh:

Representatives: Allen McNeill, Pat Hurley

Senators: Jerry Tillman, Rick Gunn

SCRIPT: I am calling from Sen/Rep__________’s district. I would like to know what the hold-up is in completing the court ordered redistricting maps to correct the racial gerrymandering GOP legislators engaged in. Elected officials such as yourself should not be considered above the law. If I, a citizen of this state, ignored a court order I would be thrown in jail for contempt. Please explain how the General Assembly members charged with redrawing these maps are not in contempt of court as we speak. Do your jobs.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Visit our new and improved calendar for more events coming up!

Banquet Committee & Executive Committee Meeting Tuesday August 8, 2017. Banquet Committee meets at 6:00pm, Executive Committee meets at 7:00pm  Location to be announced.

Lunch & Learn is back! – Pete Glidewell, former candidate for NC’s 6th District, will be joining us to talk about Gerrymandering. Join us at the Asheboro Library in the downstairs meeting room at 12PM on Monday August 14th.

RC Democratic Women’s Monthly Breakfast Meeting – August 26, 2017 9:30am at the Archdale Public Library 10433 S Main St, Archdale, NC 27263  Bring a breakfast item to share if you like.

SAVE THE DATE: 9th Annual Defending Democracy Blue Jean Gala – Saturday September 23, 2017, 6:00PM – The Exchange 204 S Fayetteville St, Asheboro, NC  Speakers and entertainment to be announced.