Carolina Politics Online

Meet Susie — the poster dog for animal rights in North Carolina.

You might remember her as the badly burned and beaten puppy found in a south Greensboro park last summer. The pit bull-shepherd mix captured the hearts of many, and they rallied to save her.

Now Susie’s supporters will gather Sunday to rally again — this time to advocate for tougher animal cruelty laws in North Carolina. They’re going door-to-door in Guilford County with information on the state’s laws, which allowed Susie’s abuser to get off with what they say is a light sentence.

Earlier this month, a judge sentenced Lashawn Whitehead to probation for felony animal cruelty, a judgment that followed the state’s structured sentencing laws. Whitehead, 21 , also received six to eight months in prison for setting personal property on fire. That personal property was Susie.

The News-Record

I’m in favor of a little “eye-for-an-eye” in cases like this. Forget the six-to-eight months in the clink; let’s pour some gasoline on this son of a bitch and light a match. Let’s see how he likes it. Maybe we’ll add a little something extra and douse the fire with vinegar instead of water.

“We want everybody to understand how minimal the penalties are for cruelty to animals,” said Roberta Wall , a Greensboro real estate agent who fostered Susie until she was placed in a permanent home with Donna Lawrence .

Under structured sentencing, the judge did not have the option to give Whitehead prison time on the cruelty charge, which is a Class I felony, the lowest level.

Under what has been dubbed “Susie’s Law,” that charge would be bumped up to a Class F felony, which allows a judge to hand out an active prison sentence.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 24, 2010

Contact: Aaron Groen

202-225-2071

WASHINGTON—The National Taxpayers Union (NTU) today awarded Foxx an “A” grade for her record of consistently voting to reduce spending and keep taxes low.  In NTU’s detailed rating of more than 300 House votes in 2009 Foxx scored a 94 percent, giving her the highest score out of North Carolina’s congressional delegation.

“Working hard to keep federal government spending in check and to keep North Carolina families’ taxes low is one of my top priorities,” Foxx said.  “So I’m pleased that NTU recognized my commitment to fiscal responsibility and limited government in their 2009 vote ratings.”

NTU’s rating of members of Congress’ votes covers 333 House votes in 2009 that had a significant affect on taxes, spending or debt.  Foxx’s “A” grade reflects her voting record on these 333 votes and also earns her the NTU’s “Taxpayers’ Friend Award”.

For more information on NTU’s congressional ratings, how the ratings are calculated and what roll call votes are used please visit www.ntu.org.

Yes, you read that correctly.  Wake Forest University was given a grant for $71,623 to “study the effects of self-administering cocaine on the glutamate system on monkeys.” Ah, but that’s not all.  Wake Forest also received a grant in the amount of $147,694 to study “preliminary data on the efficacy of integral yoga for reducing menopausal hot flashes.”  Wake Forest lies in Congressman Mel Watt’s (D) district.  I wonder who appropriated those earmarks.

There is also $50,000 for the American Dance Festival, Inc. and $250k to preserve an insect collection.

Can anybody tell me how any of this is supposed to stimulate the economy?  That was the purpose of the stimulus bill after all, hence the reason it was referred to as the stimulus bill, or more appropriately, the Porkulus bill.  Perhaps this is why after spending billions of dollars it hasn’t done jack.

Many months ago when I was expressing my dismay about the Porkulus bill and referred to it as such, our dear friend Lynn told me I was sounding too much like Rush Limbaugh.  Well Lynn, you haven’t commented in a while, but in case you are still popping by, I told ya so.

All I have to say is thank God for John Pope and the Civitas Institute for taking the time to expose this kind of crap because Lord knows I certainly don’t have the resources to.  Maybe some day.

Join us for a hometown campaign jump start for

Cal Cunningham
Candidate for U.S. Senate

Barbecue Dinner

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Richard Childress Racing Auditorium
425 Industrial Drive
Welcome, NC

Individual Tickets
$25

TO RSVP, please visit www.calfornc.com/events/jumpstart.

To sponsor the event or for more information, please contact Crystal Perkins, 336-248-2010 or crystal@calfornc.com.

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will have a moment of silence during its Monday meeting instead of a public prayer.

Judge James A. Beaty Jr. of U.S. District Court recently ruled that the county cannot allow prayers with sectarian content before meetings. Beaty said that the county could choose to have no prayer or a nonsectarian prayer instead.

“I will ask for a moment of silence and then ask a member of the board of commissioners to proceed with the Pledge of Allegiance,” said Commissioner Dave Plyler, the chairman of the board. “That would be in keeping with the judge’s order.”

The W-S Journal

Eh. I wrote about this last year. I don’t like the ruling because it’s absurdist hysteria to think that the Board of Commissioners is “respecting an establishment of religion” by starting meetings with a prayer. If you don’t want to pray with them… don’t. Don’t want your commissioner to pray? Vote for someone who won’t.

That said, why do we have to pray before a meeting? If prayer is that important to you, then pray yourself. Or get together with friends before the meeting and pray. Ain’t nothing wrong with that. I just can’t get worked up about this one way or another.

Authorities lifted curfew and alcohol restrictions in King on Sunday, but said a state of emergency declaration remained in effect until Monday.

Authorities said the state of emergency declaration would continue until Monday 9 a.m., barring any unforeseen circumstances or severe changes.

Effective Sunday afternoon, alcohol restrictions and a curfew were lifted. All other remaining restrictions would continue until Monday, said Paula May, King police chief.

Other restrictions included a ban on the sale or purchase of any type of firearm, ammunition, explosive or any possession of such items off a person’s own premises.

WXII

Oh really?  I’d like to see “Chief Eichmann” hold her little martial law display up in a court of law.  The Chief of Police of King, North Carolina has no right to violate the Constitutional rights of the residents of that community just because a damn storm passed through, or really any reason for that matter.  Her actions were nothing less than tyrannical and AG Roy Cooper needs to do an investigation into this.

Update: It sounds like these orders may have originated from higher up.

You may recall that President Obama promised several times during his 2008 presidential campaign that if elected he would push for an overhaul of the health care system and that he would make the talks and negotiations publicly accessible by the media.  This of course has turned out to be another one of the many lies he fed the American people in the run up to the 2008 elections.  The health care legislation has been a rotting stew of secrecy, back room deals, and flat out bribery among our elected representatives on the left side of the aisle.

A few days ago C-SPAN finally got up the nerve to push House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to allow them access to cover the talks of the final legislation being reconciled by both Houses of Congress.  In what is more or less a mockery of their request, the Great O has bestowed upon them a one hour window to cover the talks.  The fact that they even have to ask permission in a “government for the people, by the people” is rather striking to begin with.

Understandably outraged by the behavior of the majority party, Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC-05) has co-authored a letter with a few fellow Republican Congressmen to Pelosi demanding that they live up to the promise  of “a new era of openness in our country” made by the President early last year.  It will more than likely be ignored because this administration and Congressional leadership have demonstrated time and time again that they don’t give a damn about what the people of this country want, but hey, at least Foxx has tried.

You can read the text of her letter here.

A federal district court magistrate judge has recommended that the federal court for the Middle District of North Carolina bar Forsyth County from allowing prayers with sectarian content before meetings of the board of county commissioners.

The county has a policy that allows clergy from any religious group to volunteer to give the invocation. While the prayer-givers are asked to be respectful of other faiths, the board doesn’t otherwise monitor the content of the prayers.

W-J Journal

Meh. I’m not really sure what to think about this.  Why do we have to say a prayer every time someone convenes a meeting? Religion, to me, is a private and personal thing. People who show up to a government meeting to protest some zoning decision or something shouldn’t be asked to join everyone in a prayer, especially if they don’t feel comfortable doing so. If you really want to pray before a meeting, invite people to do so privately.

On the other hand, is this really a big deal? I mean… really? I don’t mind pre-meeting prayers, and I fail to see how this is “respecting an establishment of religion”. I hate it when some random crank with a stick up their ass regarding religion files these complaints.

Nothing like making the whole world bend over because you’re upset about something, right?

Charlotte may have taken a left turn last night, but Greensboro went the other direction and elected a fiscally conservative newcomer.

First-time mayoral candidate Bill Knight ousted incumbent Yvonne Johnson in Tuesday’s City Council election.

The victory is the first by a challenger over an incumbent mayor since  voters began electing the mayor at-large in 1973.

Knight ran on a platform of fiscal conservatism and cleaning up the city’s police department. He will lead a council that, in the course of one election, now has a supermajority of registered Republicans.

“The voters spoke to change,” Knight said

The News-Record

You can guarantee that California will fight this tooth and nail.  They have about five more seats than they should due to the population of illegals in their state.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Aaron Groen

October 14, 2009
202-225-2071

Foxx introduces bill requiring Census to determine number of illegal immigrants

Legislation will ensure fair congressional apportionment

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC-5) today introduced the Fairness in Representation Act (H.R. 3797), legislation that requires the Census Bureau to determine the number of illegal immigrants present in the United States in its decennial census. The census count currently does not distinguish between illegal immigrants and citizens or those legally present in the U.S.

“Accurately counting the number of illegal immigrants in our country is a matter of equity and justice for American citizens and those legally present in the U.S.,” Foxx said. “This bill is a commonsense proposal to require the Census Bureau to ask about citizenship status on the same census form that already asks recipients’ race, age, and sex.”

Foxx’s legislation aims to prevent unfair distortions in the distribution of House of Representative seats among the 50 states caused by large populations of illegal immigrants in certain areas.

By counting illegal immigrants the Census Bureau will be able to provide accurate data for the reapportionment and redistricting process. Without this data some states will receive fewer Congressional representatives than they should due to other states’ high illegal immigrant population.

“The census is a lynchpin in the proper functioning of America’s democratic and legislative process,” Foxx said. “Ensuring that the final tally is accurate and fair will mean everyone’s vote counts equally after congressional districts are redrawn in the coming years.”

Note: For more information on the Fairness in Representation Act or to schedule an interview with Foxx please contact Aaron Groen at 202-225-2071. To read the legislation please click here.

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Apparently the over $300 million in promised incentives from your wallet by the State of North Carolina and Forsyth County just didn’t cut it.  After opening a plant in Winston-Salem Dell will close its doors after only a few years.  The government subsidized economy once again fails in North Carolina.  Fortunately for all North Carolina taxpayers Dell has only received about $15 million so far and they have pledged to return the money.  On the same note, guess who lead the effort back in 2004 to give your money to Dell to open their plant?  Why that would be none other than former State Senator now U.S. Senator Kay Hagan (D).

Dell’s decision Wednesday to close its Forsyth County plant left 905 employees, business leaders and a community confounded by a reality that simply did not compute.

Losing one of the Triad’s corporate prides and joy shocked and surprised those who had embraced the plant as a bright sign for a new economic future.

Dell opened its desktop computer assembly factory just four years ago. North Carolina and Triad counties waged a pitched six-month battle among themselves to woo a corporate treasure.

In return, Dell was offered its own treasure: nearly $280 million in state and local incentives. More than
$37 million of that was promised from Forsyth County and Winston-Salem.

The company quickly pledged to abide by its contracts and repay much of the money it had received. In a news release, Winston-Salem said that Kip Thompson, a vice president for Dell, met with Mayor Allen Joines on Wednesday to say the company would repay $15.56 million the city had provided since Dell agreed to build a plant.

News & Record

North Carolina state Sen. Andrew Brock said wakeupamerica.com has bought time for the 30-second ad in Columbia, Greenville and Hilton Head Island for two weeks starting Monday.

The Mocksville, N.C., Republican, said the ads are needed to back up Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina, who shouted “You Lie!” at Obama as he pitched overhauling health care.

Asheville Citizen-Times

From a press release from Congresswoman Virginia Foxx

WASHINGTON, D.C.-U.S. Representative Virginia Foxx (NC-05) today announced that she is cosponsoring legislation (H.R. 3226) to re-establish Congress’s constitutional role in the presidential appointment of government ‘czars’.  Since taking office, President Obama has appointed dozens of powerful administration officials, popularly known as ‘czars’, outside the Senate confirmation process established by the Constitution.

“In the past eight months the Obama administration has appointed more than 30 czars with power over every conceivable area of government and very few have gone through the constitutionally mandated Senate confirmation process,” Foxx said.  “Congress must reclaim its oversight role in the confirmation process of high-ranking administration officials.”

I’m glad to see someone taking the lead on this.  These czar appointment have greatly disturbed me.  Obama is appointing all of these people into powerful positions in our government with absolutely no accountability to the Congress or the American people.  Essentially, he is instituting a shadow government and this is incredibly dangerous to our Republic.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Aaron Groen

August 20, 2009
(202) 225-2071

Foxx to host Fifth District Telephone Town Hall

WASHINGTON, D.C.-On Thursday, August 20 Congresswoman Virginia Foxx will host a district-wide telephone town hall on the topic of healthcare reform for Fifth District constituents.  Constituents can call into the town hall meeting by dialing 1-877-850-4133 at 6:30 pm and entering the password FOXX (3699).

“We need sensible healthcare reform that is patient centered, not government-centered or insurance company-centered,” Foxx said.  “In the midst of the national debate over healthcare reform many constituents want to know what their government is up to with healthcare.

“North Carolina taxpayers are rightly demanding that Washington slow down the process and listen to their concerns,” Foxx said.  “So I am looking forward to hearing constituents’ thoughts about the health care reform bills moving through Congress.”

Constituents will be connected to a live conference call with Rep. Foxx and other constituents in the Fifth District when they call 1-877-850-4133 on August 20 at 6:30 pm.  All participants will need to enter a password for the call: the password is F-O-X-X (3699).  After joining the call, participants will be able to ask Rep. Foxx questions about the healthcare reform or any other issues on their mind.

“Please join me on this telephone town hall,” Foxx said.  “This will be a great opportunity for constituents to let their voice be heard in the important healthcare debate in Congress no matter where they live in the Fifth District.”

This telephone town hall is open to constituents in North Carolina’s Fifth District.

Individuals can visit Rep. Foxx’s website,  <http://www.foxx.house.gov/>  or click here
<http://www.foxx.house.gov/index.cfm?SectionID=116&ParentID=22&SectionTypeID=5&SectionTree=22,116> to determine if they are a Fifth District resident.

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The word on the street is that Congressman Brad Miller (D-NC-13) has received a death threat over the whole ObamaCare affair.  I’ll keep my ears open for more information if I hear it.

Update: It seems to be only a few left blogs talking about this like the Daily Kook, but ABC does have something on it.

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=6950802

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Aaron Groen

July 28, 2009
202-225-2071

Foxx cosponsors health care reform legislation

Bill expands access to health insurance with tax credits, aid to states

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC05) today cosponsored the Improving Health Care for All Americans Act (H.R. 3218) a bill that will dramatically expand Americans’ access to health insurance.

“Our health care system is in need of reform,” Foxx said. “This legislation addresses the serious gaps in health insurance coverage that exist for many families. By creating tax credits for uninsured families and new Individual Membership Associations Congress will help make health care more affordable and portable.

“Congress can reform health care and make health insurance more affordable-and we can do it without a government takeover of health care. This bill makes that much clear. It focuses on preserving the patient-doctor relationship while removing barriers to affordable health insurance and keeping Washington bureaucrats out of the equation.”

H.R. 3218 helps uninsured families get coverage through three different policy changes:

* First, it creates a health insurance tax credit of up to $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families.
* It also expands insurance options and access to health insurance by creating Individual Membership Associations (IMAs). IMAs would expand insurance coverage by allowing groups like trade associations, churches and other civic groups to offer affordable insurance to their members.
* Finally, H.R. 3218 provides federal incentives for states to create high risk insurance pools for Americans who have difficulty securing health insurance.

Note: Foxx is also a cosponsor of H.R. 2607 which expands access to coverage for uninsured families by creating Associated Health Plans; H.R. 1118 which gives seniors more choices and control over Medicare enrollment; H.R. 1039 which promotes health information technology; H.R. 1086 which seeks to reduce health care costs through tort reform; and H.R. 2516 which lowers costs through a bevy of health care reforms.

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Wow. I thought I’d seen it all. And my friends, let me tell you, I’ve seen a lot, but I have never seen this.

Back during crossover, Rep. Pricey Harrison, a Greensboro Democrat, got a little bill (H 1353) through the House that would prohibit cities and counties from adopting blanket prohibitions on clotheslines.

The idea, according to Harrison, is to allow people who want to save energy by hanging out their laundry (rather than use their dryers) even if some folks in the community turn up their nose at the idea. Originally, the bill started out as an effort to keep homeowners associations from adopting restrictive covenants prohibiting clotheslines, but Harrison took that out of the bill after getting a lot of resistance.

So the bill came before the Senate Commerce Committee today … and it was doomed.

There was philosophical opposition, yes.

“I also think we ought to let cities and counties to elect local ordinances that govern these types of things, I don’t think the state should have an umbrella ordinance for clotheslines…we just can’t legislate everything,” said Sen. Malcolm Graham.

But you really knew the bill was going down when Senators started openly mocking it.

“Is there any kind of a dress code required when you’re hanging out your clothes,” asked Sen. Tony Rand. The question was a sideswipe at what was being whispered around the committee table: who wants to see their neighbors’ unmentionables? (Or, not to put too fine a point on it, who wants to see a senator’s unmentionables?)

As other members asked questions of staff, a few Senators had a separate dialogue going.

“So what they’re saying is if it’s your own property we can string our panties up,” Sen. Debbie Clary said to Graham, prompting Graham to reply, “String it up baby!”

Clary continued, questioning how people down at the beach might feel about watching other people’s undies flap in the ocean breeze.

“I can just see Clark stringing up his underwear on the line right outside the beach house,” Sen. Debbie Clary said, referring to Sen. Clark Jenkins.

The News-Record

I can’t quote the entire article, so  I encourage you to visit the News-Record Web site and read the rest because it’s quite a hoot.

Look, I understand what Pricey Harrison was trying to do and I support her in principle, although probably not according to her exact principles.  She sees this bill as a combatant to global “warming.”  I see it as an attempt to protect private property rights.  Both can be categorized as noble causes (even though I don’t believe in man made global “warming”).  However, when she allowed an exemption for HOAs she in effect neutered her own bill.

All that aside, this was a sad, sad day in North Carolina legislative history when our lawmakers have to take time out of their day to debate whether or not they, the government, will be the guardians of our laundry.  A sad day indeed.