Connection NC Capitol after the board the will certify verified untilatleastninedays process cannot be completely submitted through theSDR voter registration applications registration process …butthe election usingthesame-day ballots were castinthegeneral election authorities.“Specifically, possibly have beenverified by identity ofthevoters cannot the final tally even though the (SDR) ballotsare countedin many same-dayregistration final count. were approved ofthe aspart votes shouldcount,before they registrants, toensure thattheir address verification ofsame-day require thestatetocomplete the EasternDistrict to Court equally andfairly. in North Carolina are treated cast properly, andthatallvoters taken to ensure such votes are constitution. Theactionis accordance withthelawand of same-day registrants in requesting voter verification withafederallawsuit forward and Freedom (CLF) is moving BY CIVITAS STAFF NON-PROFIT ORG. NC Capitol Connection NON-PROFIT ORG. that The lawsuitasserts In thelawsuit,CLFcalledfor The CivitasCenterforLaw 805 Spring Forest Rd Ste 100 USUS POSTAGEPOSTAGE PAID Raleigh, NC 27609 Permit #302 Durham,Permit #231 NC FIGHTING FOR FAIRNESS

Vol. 8, No. 11/12 Winston-Salem, NC CIVITAS ACTS TO ENSURE ALL VOTERS TREATED EQUALLY votes cancelled by illegitimate voters should never have their have justconcluded.Legitimate close electionssuchastheonewe into questiontheoutcomeof another. Furthermore, this calls class ofvoters differently from discriminates by treating one voter registration information ballots without verification of De Luca said,“To countSDR asserts. election results,” thelawsuit water mark forDemocrats. Party and conversely alow water mark fortheRepublican margin, 2016marks ahigh governor’s raceby anarrow more. positions andpickedupthree Republicans heldthree Jesse Helms lastran. for onlythesecondtimesince and re-elected aU.S.senator their presidential nominee Cooper (D). incoming Governor Roy gubernatorial vetoes from enough seatstooverride any Assembly where theyretained toseeaGeneral heartening clearer. North Carolina isbecoming politics andgovernment in is settling,andthefuture of 2016 ElectionLikely to Leadto More Battles BY FRANCIS DE LUCA Civitas President Francis While theydidlosethe In CouncilofState races, They carriedthestatefor For Republicans, itwas The dustfrom theelection Francis DeLuca at Nov. 22press conference.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 2.44 percent, much higher than 2.44 percent, much higher than failure rateforSDRvoters was the 2012 election the verification own investigation showed that in theelection. certifies the State Board ofElections period andthescheduledday addresses between theSDR boards to verify applicants’ for thelocalcountyelection there issimplynotenoughtime voters.” legislatures thananytimesince hold ongovernorships andstate hasastronger of thetwoparties nationally the more conservative commissions than ever before. and control more county more countycommissioners And Republicans elected The lawsuitnotestheSBE’s ofthesuitisthat The crux In thelargerpicture, VOL. 8,NO. 11/12

liberals can’t winatthe ballot – we will have tosee. the nation’s foundersenvisioned future forthetypeoffederalism could beaharbingerofbright will bethenextpresident. This Donald TrumpRepublican the 1920s.And,ofcourse, Even countyelection ifevery vote aslateSaturday, Nov. 5. work. People couldregister and SDR process wassupposedto category.” SDR inaseparate,unequal class ofregistrants, withnon- votes alsocreates [a]separate residence priortocountingSDR of SDRwithoutfullyverifying separate, unequalcategory. Use and places non-SDR votes in a creates a separate class of votes the useoftheseSDRballots having been verified. Moreover, without thevoter registrations because ballotswillbecounted violates North Carolina law cast through theSDRprocess election results usingballots board’s ofthe certification percent. The results: a return rateof7.3 many couldnotbedelivered. toseehow SDR in theprimary topeoplewhovoted surveys rate. In 2012,we mailedout showed aneven higherfailure studies ofSDRverification and regular voters. the 0.34percent failure ratefor But what happens when The lawsuitnotedhow the The lawsuitalsoasserts “the Civitas hasdoneitsown GOP Retains Edge inLegislature p.4 Naughty andNicep.12 Inside nccapitolconnection.com edge onthestate’s (supposedly That gives Democrats a4-3 Bob Edmunds, aRepublican. judge,defeatedJusticeCourt Morgan, a Wake Superior also shifted.Democrat Mike the stateSupreme has Court policies. maybe someeven more liberal to pushtheCooperagendaand By allaccounts,Stein iseager with Gov-elect Roy Cooper.” Iamexcitedforward! to work we canbegin moving NC conceded, Stein tweeted: “Now Josh Stein. more openlyliberal,Democrat general will be fellow, and much and succeedinghimasattorney be foughtincourtrooms. the nextfouryears may well Carolina, the keybattlesfor box? They gotocourt. In North voters under thelaw." ensure theequaltreatment of issue ofthesuit,whichseeksto tofocusonthecore important realities,” De Luca said.“It is the election,given thepolitical totheconclusionof disruption injunction avoids anycontinued request forthetemporary that request inearlyDecember. butCLFwithdrew certification, to remove same-dayballotsfrom order injunction andpreliminary requested restraining a temporary period.” endoftheearly voting very who submitapplicationsatthe to verify addresses ofregistrants burdens imposed by attempting that arisefrom theadministrative have “noted the ‘real’ concerns themselves that federalcourts on Nov. 29. theresultsscheduled tocertify suit notes,thestateboard was verified until Dec. 7. But, the ballots couldnotbeproperly day –Monday, Nov. 7–the notice onthenextbusiness board mailedtheverification CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 In addition,thebalanceon The day Gov. Pat McCrory Cooper wonthegovernorship, “Our decisiontodrop the Originally, thelawsuit Moreover, thelawsuitalsosays  November/December 2016 2 NC Capitol Connection Who Won the Election? Trump’s Supporters BY JAMES TYNEN A lot of election beyond curiosity and were trying At the door to the hangar it was the crowd that broke the Americans he’s seen. coverage talks about to scope out what the brash where he was to speak, a line of into cheers, “USA! USA! USA!” They in turn have scrutinized how Donald Trump billionaire was really going to do. people three and four abreast was “Trump! Trump! Trump!” him carefully, and, obviously, won, but it’s really a When Trump said he didn’t slowly filing in. I began walking story about how his want to touch Social Security, for down the line to get in at the followers won. instance, no one said anything, end. I walked. And I walked. I don’t pretend but I thought I sensed one great, I walked maybe a couple of to know what he’s big sigh of relief. He obviously hundred yards. The line kept really thinking, nor had intuited what voters wanted. going and going. I looked ahead,

From the Editor From how good or bad a And they listened very carefully and in dusk, I couldn’t even see president he’ll be. to what he said. the end of the line: The crowd But I’ll suggest that It’s one thing when people disappeared into the shadows Trump won because he forged applaud a politician; it’s another ahead. I glanced right and saw a some kind of link with a huge when they actually listen to him. line of people moving the other chunk of the American people. Maybe the most interesting direction. I first saw him in Raleigh, at encounter was one where I didn’t At some point in the twilight the Dorton Arena on the State see him at all. ahead, the line had turned right, Fairgrounds, in December 2015. When he scheduled an early gone a hundred yards or so, then The crowd was like the audience evening rally in Kinston on Oct. doubled back. Thousands of for a favorite stand-up comedian. 26, some of the experts pondered people had come to Kinston He ripped off one-liners, and whether this was a sign he was to hear Trump speak. they laughed and cheered. Trump giving up. Why Kinston? They waited patiently, quietly. beamed in self-satisfaction. I’m Well, he was headed home The rowdiness of earlier months not sure either he or they took after an event in Charlotte, and had subsided. Vendors tried to it all very seriously. maybe the Kinston Regional peddle Trump merchandise, and anti-Hillary Clinton items, too. People didn’t seem very interested or angry. They were just waiting. A small private plane landed. Donald Trump speaks at Dorton Arena. Was that Trump? People looked around. Then, out of the red He had to step back, applaud, enough of them decided to give and gold sunset, a Boeing 757 give the thumbs-up sign, then him a shot at the White House. emblazoned TRUMP came go back to his speech. It seemed Conservatives see “man of roaring in. his supporters felt they could, the people” as a potentially The thousands of people at times, take charge of the dangerous thing. History can waiting in line cheered. moment, and the candidate show innumerable examples I didn’t make it into the hangar had to accept their wishes. of those who began as popular to hear him speak, but I saw Trump was their guy. I leaders and ended up badly. him speak back at Dorton Arena don’t think even the heartiest But the elites can be dangerous, People line up outside Kinston Regional Jetport. the day before the election. By Trump fan is totally blind to his too. We have four years to see that time millions had already shortcomings. But as a group, how far the pendulum has In March, he appeared at a big Jetport seemed to be an easy voted. The smart people said he a big hunk of the voters has swung. rally in Fayetteville. He stoked stop on the way. was going to go down to defeat. decided he’s on their side, and The media and political up the Crown Center Coliseum I got there an hour before But he seemed undaunted. He that’s enough. observers will keep an eye with attacks on “Lyin’ Ted” and the event, figuring that would said he’d carry North Carolina It’s not just that he’s a reality- on Trump over the next four “Crooked Hillary.” The crowd be plenty of time. I assumed and he’d win the White House. show star or says outrageous years. But we should also study roared its approval. he’d do a typical photo op, then As he talked about what he’d things. He genuinely seems to respectfully the millions of But that same day, he also jet away. do as president, an interesting connect with people. He has people who have given him did an interview with Sean But when I got to the airport, dynamic unfolded. At the first traveled all over the country their allegiance. They are the Hannity at the same complex. traffic was backed up, so I parked Dorton appearance, 11 months to see as many real people as real story. The audience listened intently. by the road and headed toward earlier, Trump had cued up possible. He may even have I suspect they had moved on what was obviously the airfield. responses. But at the second, learned something from all of

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PUBLISHER Francis X. De Luca [email protected] NAME MANAGING EDITOR Jim Tynen [email protected] ADDRESS GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jona McDuffie

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NC Capitol Connection is a publication of the Civitas Institute PHONE qCELL qHOME qBUSINESS The Civitas Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to advancing conservative and free- market principles in the state of North Carolina. Mail to: 805 Spring Forest Rd Ste 100 Raleigh, NC 27609 | web: nccivitas.org/getnews | phone: 919.747.8052 © 2016 by John W. Pope Civitas Institute nccapitolconnection.com November/December 2016 NC Capitol Connection 3 The Real Atrocity Monthly Petition is Linking Election to 9/11 Attacks Petition to the BY DEMI DOWDY President-elect Donald J. already responded, according to Trump! Regardless of what TMZ. They call this comparison the media wanted us to believe, “disgusting ignorance.” What State Board the election of Donald Trump a punch in the gut this must was not only possible — it be for them. happened! Do any of the precious college of Elections And there have been students hiding in their safe legitimate reactions, happy spaces while creating Internet and disappointed, from many memes and Snapchatting videos across the country. But feigning of themselves crying about To members of the State Elections Board and to state fear, to the point of seeking this election even remember elections staff: safe spaces, and comparing September 11, 2001? the election of Donald Trump Do they remember the horror with the terrorist attacks that of thousands of Americans being Civitas has published a range of articles in recent occurred on September 11, killed? Were they glued to the years detailing how state elections laws have been 2001, is utterly ridiculous. television that fall morning to misinterpreted, flouted and subverted, sometimes by Students here are reporting find out where the next attack that a professor of journalism would be, if there would be the Board’s own staff. We call on you to make an absolute commitment to administer and enforce state election laws as written, and to do your utmost to protect the integrity of North Carolina’s election system.

Name (First, M.I., Last) at a North Carolina university more? Did they watch the recently said the election of sickening footage of innocent Donald Trump is “just as American men and women Street Address devastating as 9/11.” throwing themselves off of Is it really? the towers to their death, to Right after the election, avoid suffocation from smoke City State, Zip County Saturday Night Live aired with a and flames? cold open so gloomy I assumed Probably not. And if they do, I Email I was watching the wrong would urge them to think twice channel. Kate McKinnon, the between comparing the results of actress who has played Hillary a free election, America’s choice Phone q Cell q Home q Business Clinton in sketches during this of a president they might not election season, sat at a piano and like, with a terrorist attack that Signature Date performed a moving rendition of resulted in the death of almost the song “Hallelujah.” I waited 3,000 of us. for the punchline, but when the We must be vigilant. We q Yes! Send me Civitas' email newsletter song ended, she looked into the must hold our new president camera with tears in her eyes and accountable. And we must move said, “I’m not giving up, and forward toward unity and get to neither should you.” There surely work. So pull up your big boy hasn’t been an SNL opening pants and end the dramatics. The this somber since September election of Donald Trump may Name (First, M.I., Last) 11. The tone was eerily similar. or may not be what you wanted, Give me a break. but it is certainly incomparable Robert De Niro has reportedly to the devastating death and chimed in with the same destruction this country Street Address sentiments saying, “I feel like experienced on September I did after 9/11.” 11, 2001. What a disservice to our The real problem is there is a City State, Zip County country and what an insult need to differentiate between a to 9/11 families to make this terrorist atrocity and the peaceful Email comparison! Some families have election of a chief executive.

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805 SPRING FOREST RD STE 100 q Yes! Send me Civitas' email newsletter RALEIGH, NC 27609 Cut out and mail to: Civitas Institute, 805 Spring Forest Rd Ste 100 Raleigh, NC 27609 or Email to: [email protected] Please make copies of this form for others to sign nccapitolconnection.com November/December 2016 4 NC Capitol Connection 2016 Election Likely to Lead to More Courtroom Battles CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 nonpartisan) highest court. majority in the General Cooper administration might resistance, and they may in fact We are also taking legal In addition, the federal courts Assembly has had successes well put a strong emphasis assist efforts to thwart the will action to ensure that all fines have been overly friendly in with cutting taxes, reforming on legal action to advance its of the legislative majority. and forfeitures go to the state’s recent years to liberals. unemployment insurance agenda. While Civitas will continue to schoolchildren, not to special Perhaps most crucially, reform, and bolstering school As attorney general, Cooper be North Carolina’s conservative interests. (See story on p. 7.) just before the election, the choice programs, among other showed that if he personally voice, conducting research and CLF will be ready to tackle federal Fourth Circuit Court of things. disagreed with state actions, he offering conservative policy other legal issues as they arise. Appeals threw out voter photo But there’s more to do, so would shirk his duty to defend solutions, we are going to be Liberals have been losing at the ID, put same-day registration Republican legislators need to them in court. even more assertive in pushing ballot box, especially when the and voting back into one-stop continue advancing freedom It’s not a stretch of the back on what has been the Left’s voting is conducted fairly, so voting, and added an extra week and prosperity in North imagination to see him, with traditional turf, the courtroom. they have turned increasingly of one-stop and reauthorized Carolina. the help of Attorney General That’s why the Civitas Center to the courts to impose their out-of-precinct voting. Don’t be surprised if Stein, going to court to push for Law and Freedom (CLF) will. That may well be the These rulings reversethe majority puts together his own agenda, regardless of is poised to play an even more case in the next four years in commonsense provisions of legislation Cooper vetoes, the the legislature’s votes or public active role in the years ahead. North Carolina – and we will North Carolina’s 2013 election vetoes are overridden, and opinion. Currently, CLF has two major be waiting for them. reform bill, known as the Voter AG Stein refuses to defend This attitude may also be an efforts underway. Information Verification Act North Carolina laws in state open invitation to the myriad In the first, we are seeking (VIVA). and federal courts – much groups on the Left to sue in to ensure that all voters are This makes it very easy to as Cooper did when he was both state and federal courts treated fairly and equally when imagine a couple of scenarios attorney general. to overturn laws. They will see registering to vote. (See story for the next four years. The With that in mind, the the AG and governor offer no on p. 1.) GOP Retains Edge in General Assembly and, Congress BY CIVITAS STAFF In legislative elections, way or the other relative to the Tim Benton and Libertarian Democrat Joe Sam Queen lost by 2012, garnered 59 percent of Republicans kept firm control state as a whole. This tool helps Thomas Howell Jr. (Incumbent less than 300 votes to Republican the votes, defeating Democrat of the North Carolina General us give perspective to a number Democrat Ken Waddell did not Mike Clampitt. Brownie Futrell. Assembly, losing one seat overall of key election results across the seek re-election.) in the House of Representatives state. District 49 (R+1): Republican Key Races Federal races but gaining a seat in the Senate, incumbent Gary Pendleton After a recount in District 8, In federal election results, according to the latest results The Senate (R-Wake) lost to Democrat Republican Rep. Susan Martin kept Donald Trump received 49.8 available. The one seat that switched Cynthia Ball. She tallied better her seat by beating Democratic percent of the North Carolina In federal elections, a Republican parties in the Senate was in than 48 percent of the votes, challenger Charlie Pat Farris by vote, compared with the 46.2 senator was reelected for the first District 13, where Democratic giving her a lead of about 800 163 votes. percent won by Democratic rival time since Sen. Jesse Helms, and Sen. Jane Smith lost to Republican votes. Libertarian David Ulmer In District 6, newcomer Beverly Hillary Clinton. Libertarian Gary Republicans retained a 10-3 lead Danny Earl Britt Jr. Britt, who received more than 4 percent Boswell, a Republican, took 51 Johnson garnered better than in congressional seats runs a law firm in Lumberton of the votes. percent of the vote, beating 2.7 percent of the ballots. The GOP maintained veto-proof and is a major in the North District 51 (R+5): First-term Democrat Warren Judge. U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, a majorities in both chambers of the Carolina National Guard, took incumbent Democrat Brad Salmon Incumbent Chris Malone Republican, won re-election, General Assembly. Republicans better than 55 percent of the (D-Harnett) lost to Republican (R-Wake) won 53 percent of notching 51 percent of the vote. will hold a 74-46 edge in the votes in a district that typically candidate John Sauls, who won the vote in District 35, defeating Democrat Deborah K. Ross took House and a 35-15 advantage leans Democratic with a D+12 more than 55 percent of the Terrence Everitt, the Democrat. 45 percent, and Libertarian Sean in the Senate. ranking on the CPI. votes. Rep. Nelson Dollar (R-Wake) Haugh received 2.5 percent. With Roy Cooper elected District 88 (R+6): Incumbent took 49.3 percent of the ballots, All of the state’s sitting U.S. governor, that is important. A The House Republican Rob Bryan lost his finishing ahead of Democrat representatives on the November three-fifths vote in each legislative In the House, three seats seat to Democrat Mary Belk, Jennifer Ferrell and Libertarian ballot were re-elected handily. In chamber is needed to override a previously held by Democrats who had a winning margin of Brian Irving in District 36. the closest race, Republican Rep. governor’s veto. In the House, were won by Republicans, while more than 500 votes. In the above four elections, George Holding took more than Republicans prevailed in GOP- 56 percent of the votes in the 2nd leaning districts. Democrats did District, besting Democrat John prevail in some GOP-leaning P. McNeil. Holding, currently House districts. representing the 13th District, Democratic incumbent Gale beat Congresswoman Renee Adcock (D-Wake) took 57 percent Ellmers in the primary after of the vote in District 41, which redistricting left them pitted tilts slightly Republican. She beat against each other in District 2. Republican Chris M. Shoffner. The other winning Republican Rep. John Ager (D-Buncombe), incumbents were Walter B. Jones, who upset a GOP incumbent District 3; Virginia Foxx, District in 2014, garnered 55 percent 5; Mark Walker, District 6; David of the vote this year to defeat Rouzer, District 7; Richard Frank Moretz, a Republican (in Hudson, District 8; Robert District 15.) Pittenger, District 9; Patrick In Senate races of note, McHenry, District 10; and incumbent Tamara Barringer Mark Meadows, District 11. (R-Wake) edged Democrat In the only congressional race Susan Evans by 1,042 votes in without an incumbent, Davie Senate District 17. Libertarian County businessman Ted Budd, this is 72 out of the 120 seats. Democrats took four seats District 92 (D+1): Chaz Beasley, Susan Hogarth garnered more a Republican, took 56 percent of In the Senate, it is 30. previously held by Republicans. a Democrat, took more than 54 than 4 percent of the votes. the vote in District 13, besting The 2012 Civitas Partisan District 40 (R+3): After a percent of the vote, defeating Beth Incumbent Wesley Meredith Democrat rival Bruce Davis, a Index (CPI) compares votes cast recount, five-term incumbent Danae Caulfield. Caulfield was (D-Cumberland) took better Guilford County commissioner. for statewide races in each NC Marilyn Avila (R-Wake) finished named the Republican candidate than 56 percent of the vote in Democrat representatives going legislative district with votes cast 384 votes behind former judge after Rep. Charles Jeter resigned the D+3 District 19, defeating back to Washington are: G.K. statewide. The end result is a Democrat Joe John. his seat and declined to run for Democrat Toni Morris. Butterfield, District 1; David letter (D or R) followed by a District 46 (D+4): Republican re-election, though he had won In District 1, Bill Cook, Price, District 4; and Alma number, indicating the extent Brenden Jones received 60 percent the primary. who won by 21 votes when Adams, District 12. to which each district leans one of the votes, beating Democrat District 119 (D+1): Incumbent first elected to the Senate in nccapitolconnection.com November/December 2016 NC Capitol Connection 5 Republicans Gain Three Council of State Positions BY CIVITAS STAFF In North Carolina Council Republican Lt. Gov. Dan He edged Atkinson by taking noting the pension fund alone After a recount, State Auditor of State races aside from the Forest received better than 51 50.6 percent of the votes. is more than four times the size Beth Wood, a Democrat, governorship, Republicans held percent of the vote compared Atkinson, originally elected in of the state’s $22 billion annual defeated Republican challenger three positions and picked up with Democrat Linda Coleman’s 2004, was seeking her fourth budget. Chuck Stuber, a former FBI at least three. But Democrats 45 percent. Libertarian Jacki term. She had been the nation’s In the race for commissioner agent. retained the offices of attorney Cole took close to 3 percent. longest-serving state school of insurance, Republican “My entire professional general, state auditor and The lieutenant governor superintendent. challenger Mike Causey upset career has been one of public secretary of state. serves as president of the North Republican Dale Folwell won the incumbent, Democrat service, and I hope I will have In another crucial statewide Carolina Senate, serves on outgoing state Treasurer Janet Wayne Goodwin, by almost the opportunity to serve the race, for North Carolina’s highest the State Board of Economic Cowell’s seat over Democrat 40,000 votes. citizens of North Carolina again court, Democrat Mike Morgan Development, is a member Dan Blue III, an investment Republican Commissioner in some capacity in the future,” received 54 percent of the votes, of the NC Military Affairs banker and lawyer who is a son of Agriculture Steve Troxler Stuber said in conceding. ousting Republican Justice Bob Commission, and chairs the of Sen. Dan Blue. defeated Democrat challenger Wood held about a 6,000- Edmunds from the state Supreme Energy Policy Council. Folwell is a former state Walter Smith by a wide margin. vote lead over Stuber when he Court. The result gives that One of the most surprising representative who most Commissioner of Labor Cherie conceded, as the recount came ostensibly nonpartisan body results was Republican recently had been head of the Berry, a Republican, won with to a close. a Democratic majority of 4-3. Mark Johnson’s win over the state’s Division of Employment 55 percent of the vote over In addition, Roy Cooper has In the Court of Appeals incumbent, Democrat June Security. Democrat Charles Meeker. been replaced as attorney general elections, in which candidates Atkinson, for superintendent The treasurer is charged But Democrats were not by another Democrat, as former run under party labels, all five of public instruction. with overseeing the financial without victory, maintaining state Sen. Josh Stein (D-Wake) Republicans won seats on the Johnson, a former teacher operations of the state, including their hold of the secretary of beat Republican state Sen. Buck bench: Phil Berger Jr., Hunter and an attorney, was a first-term the State Health Plan and the state office, as incumbent Elaine Newton (R-Johnston) by more Murphy, Bob Hunter, Richard member of the Winston-Salem $90 billion pension fund. Marshall took more than 52 than 20,000 votes. Dietz and Valerie Zachary. Forsyth County School Board. News reports have underlined percent of the votes in defeating In Council of State races, (See story below.) the importance of the post by Republican Michael LaPaglia. Why Did June Atkinson Lose Her Re-Election Bid? BY A.P. DILLON Possibly the biggest upset of the Common Core opposing Common Core of lying issue is the response Lt. Gov. reining in homeschooling by election was Republican Mark Atkinson’s unwavering support about the standards. “The eighth Dan Forest received to a letter he controlling testing of home- Johnson’s ousting of incumbent of the increasingly unpopular commandment tells us not to sent in 2013 to the Department schooled students. Democrat June Atkinson as the Common Core State Standards bear false witness, and there is of Public Instruction (DPI). Atkinson has also made North Carolina Superintendent was perhaps the key factor in much false witness going on Forest sent Atkinson and DPI inflammatory statements about of Public Instruction. her defeat. about the Common Core in a letter with 67 questions and funding for the increasingly In such down-ballot races, Atkinson served as the this state,” said Atkinson. received “12 boxes containing popular Opportunity incumbents hold the big president of the Council of Even now that Atkinson has approximately 40,000 sheets Scholarship Program (OSP). advantage of wider name Chief State School Officers lost, she is still insulting those of paper.” The OSP, which is designed recognition. But that wasn’t all. for low-income students, has According to the initial DPI referred him to 134 its own set of funding and does vote tallies, Johnson pulled in separate websites that each not raid public school funds. 2,262,977 votes – 50.63 percent, link to over 100 separate In 2013, Atkinson said, and Atkinson received 2,207,020 pages, more than 320 separate “With the voucher legislation votes – 49.37 percent. reports, hundreds of original that we have we could be in Atkinson has served three source documents, over 40 dangerous territory as far as terms as the state’s top education presentations, one blog post, taxpayers’ dollars going to private official, first being elected in and a thumb drive. When schools.” Atkinson continued 2004 and re-elected in 2008 and broken down, DPI’s reply took and became hyperbolic: “There 2012. Her win in 2004 against 597 pages to answer each single is nothing in the legislation that Republican Bill Fletcher was individual question submitted. would prevent someone from by a mere 8,835 votes. In fact, In 2016, Atkinson and DPI establishing a school of terror.“ the election went to a recount even went as far as to push back Atkinson’s tenure also had and was only settled when the on a bill that would allow for some major stumbling blocks. General Assembly stepped in June Atkinson both Common Core math and USA Today called out North and confirmed her to the office traditional math to be offered Carolina as the worst state for – in August 2005. (CCSSO) in 2015. The CCSSO opposing the standards. In an in North Carolina schools. teacher screening. Atkinson In 2008, her victory over is one of two nongovernmental interview with WRAL published Johnson came out against was also caught by the General Republican Richard Morgan organizations that helped create, Nov. 14, Atkinson took one Common Core during the Assembly diverting funds for was far larger, winning by nearly disseminate and promote more swipe at Common Core race, and that likely helped reading programs and instead 297,000 votes. 2012 brought Common Core. The CCSSO opposition: “I have yet to push him over the top. On his using them to keep certain staff Republican challenger John also owns the copyright on the meet a person who is against campaign site, he stated, “Every on board. Tedesco, who lost by more than standards. the Common Core Standards year that goes by is another year Meanwhile, Johnson says he 365,000 votes. Many parents reported that who [has] read the Common our students and teachers are wants reform. He says he doesn’t Johnson is a board member she was dismissive and resistant Core Standards.” dealing with age-inappropriate like Common Core. He says of the Forsyth County Schools to hearing complaints from For the record, I’ve met Dr. standards. Where is the urgency he’s fiscally responsible. Will and a former teacher at West them. Atkinson on several occasions. at the top of our state education the state see more of the same Charlotte High School. He In some cases, Atkinson She knows very well who I am department to tackle these tough bureaucratic baloney, or will he currently works as corporate outright insulted the public and that I oppose Common issues? Instead, our education actually clean house and change counsel at a technology company over Common Core. In a 2013 Core. I’ve read the standards, leaders are okay with the status things? North Carolinians will called Inmar in Winston-Salem. letter to the News & Observer, and she knows those who oppose quo. More of the same cannot be have to see what his tenure as Johnson bested J. Wesley she wrote, “Another important Common Core do so because the only option for our students the state’s top education official Sills and Dr. Rosemary Stein skill we endeavor to teach our many of the line-item standards and educators.” holds in store. in the primaries to advance to children is the difference between are flawed and developmentally the General Election. Johnson propaganda and facts.” That inappropriate, and also because School choice This article by A.P. Dillon campaigned on lessening the letter has since disappeared from of the secretive way Common Another area where Johnson is adapted from an amount of standardized testing the News & Observer website. Core was created, adopted and may have been a more appealing earlier version published in the state, getting rid of At a town hall event held is being implemented. option was in the arena of school in American Lens Common Core, and continuing in Cabarrus County in 2014, Another demonstration of choice. Atkinson in the past (americanlens.com). to raise teacher compensation. Atkinson openly accused anyone Atkinson’s defensiveness on the has made remarks suggesting

nccapitolconnection.com November/December 2016 6 NC Capitol Connection Why Is Cooper Hiring a Man Who Disdains Our Troops? BY SUSAN MYRICK One of Governor-elect Roy of Americans that we honor, profits of $190 million, over a coverage.” mostly Democrats.) Cooper's first hires is a fat-cat we honor warriors,” he wrote. thousand people wrote outraged According to a Triangle This tangled relationship has insider who’s raked in taxpayer We must ask of Roy Cooper: letters, emails, or made phone Business Journal Article, drawn criticism even from the dollars through state contracts, is Does he share Eudy’s vision in calls to Insurance Commissioner Eudy put pressure on Long to Left. The State Employees happy to bully ordinary people attacking the members of our Jim Long worried about the pen a letter to “those whose Association of North Carolina worried about health care, and armed forces and veterans? effect of the focus on profits correspondences he was (SEANC) once picketed outside disrespects the men and women Eudy’s bio includes work as on their premiums and whether forwarding to Capstrat. In the Eudy’s home. SEANC accused who put their lives on the line a reporter for WBTV and the Eudy of "pay-to-play" politics in the military every day. Charlotte Observer. He served because Capstrat had received Is that the kind of person Roy as executive director of the NC millions of dollars in state Cooper wants at his elbow giving Democratic Party in the 1980s contracts. him advice on vital topics? and was named one of North And will Eudy still receive Cooper has named Ken Carolina’s top 20 lobbyists. money from Capstrat while Eudy as his senior advisor to Eudy also has deep connections working for the governor? And the governor-elect. In a state to Blue Cross Blue Shield of will Capstrat still profit from state that is home to nearly 130,000 North Carolina (BCBS-NC). contracts while Eudy is serving active-duty military personnel He is founder of Capstrat, LLC, as Cooper’s right-hand man? and nearly 800,000 veterans, a communications company that Because of all the state Cooper’s pick of Eudy is did extensive work for BCBS- contracts, and dollars, Eudy troubling. NC. they would be able to afford letter, the commissioner told received at Capstrat over the In a September 8 article In 2007, Eudy was accused health coverage.” consumers that the DOI had no years, he is probably the highest- published on the EducationNC of trying to strong-arm “Nonprofit Blue [Cross] choice but to comply with the level recipient of state funds to website (ednc.org), Eudy tried BCBS policyholders who had became extremely worried at FOI Act, which mandates that ever get a senior appointment to make a case for teachers being complained about the insurance the prospect of stringent review public records must be produced in the Governor’s Office. the “linchpin of our national nonprofit’s announcement of of their outsize profits. Eudy, when requested.” In short, Eudy took money defense.” record profits of $190 million. acting for Blue Cross, made a Long wrote, "Some people from the state, gave part of He proudly emphasized that he NC Policy Watch, the media transparent attempt to intimidate are fearful that Blue Cross will it back to politicians, gained has something in common with project of the NC Justice Center, ordinary citizens around North raise their premiums or deny influence that way, and then San Francisco 49ers quarterback in a 2007 article wrote: Carolina from expressing their their claims in retaliation for got more dollars – and now is Colin Kaepernick: Although he “Ken Eudy and NC Blue Cross concerns to the insurance contacting me and complaining. getting a powerful job at the (Eudy) stands for “The Star- have a long-term relationship. commissioner. Let me assure you that such center of government. Spangled Banner” at sporting Millions of dollars that should To do this, Eudy demanded, action by Blue Cross would One more question: A events, he stays in his seat when have gone to lower health and received, copies of all those be illegal, and I would not recurring problem is the thousands of fans stand and cheer premiums or pay for medical letters and comments complete tolerate it." “revolving door” in which insiders men and women in the armed services has gone straight from with names and addresses. But are such words enough get plum jobs in government, services. Even Kaepernick says the pockets of Blue Cross Remember, these are ordinary to truly reassure nervous and collect salaries, then return to he respects the troops, while policyholders into Capstrat’s Blue Cross policyholders who vulnerable policyholders? private life to cash in on their protesting against the country. profits.” legitimately might worry that Another troubling issue is connections. Will Eudy renounce Eudy, in contrast, disdains our The Policy Watch article Blue [Cross] would be unhappy Eudy’s status as both a major state contracts and lobbying men and women in uniform. continued: with what they said and this recipient of state dollars via when he leaves the Cooper “I sit simply because I think “Back in 2003 when Blue unhappiness would be reflected contracts and a major donor (over Administration? it odd that, of all the categories [Cross] first announced record in their health premiums or $100,000 to state politicians, Governor Pat McCrory’s Worst Foe? Pat McCrory BY MARK SHIVER Gov. Pat McCrory lost his financially in 2012, I remember McCrory was not very excited Cooper had taken in $21.8 For example, look at what bid for re-election largely due saying, “I wonder how many about having to do fundraising million, while McCrory had many say was the final nail in to self-inflicted wounds. For senators are going to be willing this time around. In the face gathered $13.9 million. For a the McCrory campaign coffin: HB 2 haters, as much as you’d to help him when he comes of millions of out-of-state challenger to raise 56 percent the toll road controversy in love to place the blame on around asking for campaign dollars flowing to the Cooper more than an incumbent is Charlotte. A familiar refrain the commonsense legislation help in 2016?” Later I even campaign, I scratched my head stunning. Again, Politics 101: from folks in Mecklenburg that many in North Carolina You have to raise money. and Iredell counties was that the support, that legislation in Third, McCrory was the face NCDOT did not care or that itself was not his undoing. I of HB 2. It was not the bill the Governor’s Office was not find several factors that, in my itself that sank him, but the responding to their concerns. opinion, loom much larger. concentrated attack on him Real or not, this was their First of all, McCrory tried to by the radical Left and their perception. throw his weight around with cohorts in the media that hurt. Here’s a telling statistic Susan the North Carolina Senate. For those who assert that HB Myrick of Civitas has culled For example, during 2 was the reason McCrory lost, from the preliminary election contentious budget debates I merely point out that Lt. Gov. results: In those two counties, in 2015, McCrory lambasted Dan Forest, who was much McCrory received almost Senate Republicans, including more outspoken in support of 19,000 fewer votes than his President Pro Tem Phil Berger, the bill than McCrory ever was, own lieutenant governor. That even comparing them with tallied 94,000 more votes than right there was enough to sink Democrats such as Marc the governor. McCrory’s campaign. Basnight, Tony Rand and Harry Also, note that Republicans In summary, McCrory’s Reid. in the General Assembly, who loss was not because of Moral I was working in the NC actually passed the legislation, Monday or HB 2. Remember, Senate at the time, and I maintained super majorities in it was a very close race, not by clearly recall telling some of my both chambers. any means a mandate from the colleagues that saying something heard comments from Senate when I heard that McCrory just Also hurting was a lack people to abandon conservative like that would come back to members that their support for did not want to pick up the of good customer service, policies. Rather, the loss was due bite McCrory. McCrory would be less than phone and make those pleas something I experienced and to an accumulation of a lot of As he had counted on these enthusiastic in 2016. Politics to his donor base for financial heard from others who had little things, or as one pundit very same senators he had just 101: Don’t bite the hands that support. reached out to the Governor’s said, death to the campaign by insulted publicly for major feed you. According to the most recent Office or his campaign for one a thousand cuts. support, both politically and Second, I heard routinely that news reports, as of Oct. 20, reason or another. nccapitolconnection.com November/December 2016 NC Capitol Connection 7 Civitas Sues Attorney General for Diverting Settlement Funds BY ALEXANDER GUIN The Civitas Center for Law and “Environmental Enhancement.” of diverting settlement funds to Luca, a North Carolina taxpayer Foundation did with the money, Freedom (CLF) on October 18 The deal was a win-win for the these kinds of environmental being represented in court by Paul it is reasonable to assume that filed suit against Roy Cooper in parties involved. It appeared to programs is unconstitutional, “Skip” Stam, has sued Cooper some or all of the money went his capacity as North Carolina the public that Easley punished why has no one taken action on the grounds that the funds directly to the NCEP for ads attorney general, alleging he Smithfield for “hurting the to stop it? In a similar case, expended for environmental opposing Republicans, especially illegally diverted money from environment.” Yet the fine someone did. enhancement should go to the Gov. McCrory this year. public education to special might be considered a slap on In 1998, the North Carolina public schools in the future and It appears that Cooper has interest groups. the wrist for a multibillion-dollar Department of Environment the past three years of grants been sending Environmental In addition, one of the corporation, and Smithfield got to and Natural Resources (DENR) should be recovered from their Enhancement Grants to a group environmental groups that received proceed with the merger without implemented a policy that recipients. that sponsored ads attacking his funding under this agreement another lawsuit from yet another allowed parties found violating Each year, up to $2 million opponent in the race for governor. may have supported political state attorney general. environmental law to direct a is given out to, on average, 10 Moreover, in 2013, Smithfield advertising against Cooper’s Since Civitas filed its lawsuit, portion of civil or criminal organizations. There is one grant Foods was sold to a Chinese opponent in the race for governor, Cooper's spokesperson said, Gov. Pat McCrory. "[Smithfield Foods] voluntarily The funds also were paid out agreed to directly fund water by Smithfield Foods, a subsidiary research and water quality of a Chinese corporation. The projects," essentially saying Civitas Institute filed a complaint that the company agreed to with the State Board of Elections give up to $65 million out of demanding an investigation into the goodness of its heart. the use of those funds and whether Based on the facts, however, they are American in origin. it is not hard to reach a different conclusion: that pressure from The background the state compelled Smithfield The North Carolina Constitution into accepting the “agreement.” and a 2005 NC Supreme Court Any agreement with government, decision both require all fines by its very nature, carries either and forfeitures be directed to an implicit or explicit threat: public schools. CLF contends “comply or else.” that Cooper, in his capacity Furthermore, the fact that as attorney general, directed Smithfield Foods agreed to funds resulting from a 1999 deliver the money directly to agreement with Smithfield Foods the attorney general and not that appear to be equivalent to the General Assembly strongly fines and forfeitures to favored suggests a quid pro quo. environmental groups. A simple review of the NC In the late 1990s, Smithfield Attorney General Office’s penalties to a “Supplemental recipient in particular whose company, Shuanghui International Foods, now the nation’s largest hog website indicates that after Environmental Project.” activities are cause for additional Holdings, China’s largest meat producer, was on an acquisition signing the agreement, a grant- The North Carolina School concern: the Pamlico-Tar River processor. spree. One of the companies it making operation that would be Boards Association and several Foundation. Since 2004, the Since the 1999 agreement wanted to absorb was a major undistinguishable from a charitable individual school boards filed suit foundation has received a total between Smithfield and the pork producer: Murphy Family grant-making foundation was against state Treasurer Richard of $387,794 from Cooper. NC attorney general has not Farms in Rose Hill, NC. set up in the AG’s office. Moore. They demanded that those In 2015, the Pamlico-Tar River changed and Smithfield is now Smithfield Food’s acquisition More than $25 million has been fines be directed to the public Foundation merged with the Neuse part of a Chinese corporation, of what appeared to be every granted out to more than 100 schools as is constitutionally River Foundation to form a new it would stand to reason that pork producer of notable size projects since the agreement was required. organization named Sound Rivers. the money that funds the AG’s in the United States did not go signed, with nearly $25 million After several years of litigation, Sound Rivers is a member of an environmental enhancement unnoticed by attorneys general more slated to be doled out in the state Supreme Court in 2005 umbrella organization called the grants could be Chinese in origin. across the country. the future. agreed with the School Boards North Carolina Environmental If this is the case, Cooper’s In North Carolina, Democratic Looking at everything that Association that the funds paid Partnership (NCEP). grants would be a violation Attorney General Mike Easley – happened here, it appears the for Supplemental Environmental While the NCEP has never filed of the prohibition of foreign now a convicted felon, disgraced payout resulting from the Programs (SEPs) must go to public a report with the State Board of national funds being used in attorney, and former governor U.S. political campaigns, and – had plenty of political reasons the grants are a federal crime to make a deal with Smithfield “This is but one example of how a that should be referred to federal Foods rather than joining with prosecutors. other state attorneys general in massive network of liberal organizations The underlying issues here are suing the company. important and bear repeating: By not taking Smithfield to court, and insiders can use government to using the threat of government he could pressure the company to force, it seems clear that elected fork over millions of dollars with their advantage.” officials coerced a private business an “environmental enhancement to give millions to liberal special agreement,” winning political agreement is tantamount to a schools. The Court also held Elections, the Center for Public interest groups. points among his supporters. fine or forfeiture, and thus falls that the previous three years of Integrity shows NCEP as the And, based on available Meanwhile, as he looked ahead under Article IX, Section 7 of the fines paid that went to SEPs largest sponsor of ads by far in information, it also looks like they to running for governor, he would North Carolina Constitution, must be recovered. the governor’s race – all opposing are backing – some monetarily, also be keeping Smithfield on his which states: Cooper was a named party in Gov. McCrory. some otherwise –Cooper’s run side by not costing the company “All moneys, stocks, bonds, that lawsuit and had been attorney The NCEP spent at least $1.6 for governor. millions more in legal fees and and other property belonging to general since January 2001, so million on TV ads opposing This is but one example of a possible delay or blocking of a county school fund, and the it stands to reason that he had McCrory in this election cycle how a massive network of liberal the merger. clear proceeds of all penalties and knowledge of the Court’s ruling. and spent more than $1.6 million organizations and insiders can use From news reports, it appears forfeitures and of all fines collected in 2014 to defeat Republican government to their advantage. that all parties involved reached in the several counties for any CLF takes action legislative candidates. an agreement requiring Smithfield breach of the penal laws of the The “EnvironmentalSince there is no public Foods to pay $15 million to State, shall belong to and remain Enhancement” programs disclosure of the source of North Carolina State University in the several counties, and shall administered by Cooper since funds the NCEP uses for its immediately for the development be faithfully appropriated and 2001 appear to be identical to anti-McCrory ad campaigns, of “Environmentally Superior used exclusively for maintaining the Supplemental Environmental and to date, no evidence of Technologies,” and up to free public schools.” Programs set up by DENR in an audit or verification as to $50 million over 25 years for One might ask, if the practice 1998. As a result, Francis De what the Pamlico-Tar River nccapitolconnection.com November/December 2016 8 NC Capitol Connection Here Are Two Ways to Effectively Rig Elections BY SUSAN MYRICK Donald Trump’s choice of even before the polls closed. one bit of new information to support manager, ignored the Carolina’s common-sense reforms words before Nov. 8 about the Exit polling was stopped once the five SBE members when she statute that requires a signature and reversal of a purely partisan election system was interesting it was proven that the polls and told them that Cooley had sent as part of the registration process, application of an election law because people interpret the word the reporting of the polls could a list of Democratic candidates including changes in voter was the elimination of straight- “rigged” in different ways. affect the outcome of political along with her presentation to registration. party voting. Was he talking about voter contests. all who attended the meetings NCGS 163-82.6 (b) clearly This change goes beyond just fraud or about collusion between where she lectured on the best states: Signature – The form the repeal of an antiquated law the media and establishment The system practices of committing voter shall be valid only if signed by implemented to make voting politicians and their coalitions Then there is voter fraud. fraud. the applicant. easier in a one-party state, but it – “the system”? Many people We’ve heard reports of fraud The state board members Worse, now the senior also does away with what even agree with his use of “rigged” for investigations around the country offered little by way of input. leadership of the administrative the liberal Brennan Center for one or both of these definitions. this year. Here in North Carolina, In fact, the two Democrats on staff is backing her up. As a recent Justice called a “ballot flaw.” Now that the election has been Civitas helped expose a strange the board never uttered a word Civitas article recounted, SBE While North Carolina was one held, and with the aftermath situation in which a State Board during the whole discussion. leadership has tried desperately to of just 15 states that included a in mind, let’s look at whether of Elections (SBE) employee, Dr. Cooley was subsequently fired show Degraffenreid’s action was straight-party option on partisan these two characterizations mean E. Lee Cooley, was teaching the for her actions, but what about acceptable, but their explanation ballots, it was the only state that elections can be “rigged” – or public and political operatives the repercussions of the false raises more questions than it did not include the presidential even of how that word may not how to commit voter fraud. information she was spreading? answers. contest in the straight-party even be strong enough to describe It may be an understatement In the end, Strach told board selection. what has gone on. to say that we were alarmed to members that SBE officials A history of party Machinations North Carolina Democrats learn that at least one person in had taken remedial measures, The rigging process in North dropped the presidential contest The media the SBE, the department that starting with sending emails to Carolina began many years ago. from straight-ticket voting in First, no story about “rigged” oversees all elections in North attendees of the meeting who had North Carolina’s election laws 1967, apparently because they elections is complete without Carolina, was telling people that received Cooley’s presentation had been written and rewritten could see North Carolinians mention of the mainstream it was okay to commit voter electronically. by one party, the Democrats, to were becoming disenchanted media. with the liberal trend in the As Election Day neared, national Democratic Party. nationally and locally the media Since then, Republican reported Democrat Hillary presidential candidates have Clinton was leading in states carried the state in 10 out of where early voting was taking the last 12 presidential elections. place, including North Carolina. This measure did not give the They point to political party advantage to the Republicans affiliation in the turnout numbers as the Democrats had done for and come to the conclusion that their party in the 1960s, but since more Democrats were reduced the chances of any voter voting, then Clinton must be missing a vote for the presidential winning. candidate. But this betrays the media’s Consider another reform ignorance about our state. recently made in North Carolina In North Carolina, Democrats that benefits all voters by always outnumber Republicans reversing a rule put in place by at the polls because by party a political party to discourage registration Democrats make another party from voting. up nearly 40 percent of the The reform made voting by electorate, while Republicans mail easier, by eliminating the make up only 30 percent. requirement that voters who Some of that registration edge, fraud and actually instructing However, Civitas believes that’s enable it to control the legislative vote by mail must make their however, is more a reflection of them how to do so by voting all the SBE will do, if even that. branch for more than 120 years. requests for a ballot in their own history, habit and tradition than other people’s ballots. Our skepticism about the Case in point: North Carolina handwriting. contemporary voting tendencies. “Rigged” may be too light situation is fueled by the obvious is one of only three states (along This provision reverses a By no means is early voting of a term when we understand steps the board should have with Delaware and Tennessee) change made in the 1990s by turnout by party an indication of how the SBE staff explained the taken. Local elections boards that placed the Democratic the Democratic legislature in who is winning. In 2012, when Cooley story to their board should have been directed to Party at the top position on response to the realization that Obama lost North Carolina by members, effectively sweeping compare signatures of absentee every partisan ballot in every Republicans were successfully nearly 100,000 votes and the the story under the rug, and how voters when they met to approve election. North Carolina law turning their voters out to vote Republican legislature solidified they claimed to take remedial absentee ballots. stated that candidates would by using the absentee-by-mail their super majorities, 2,774,594 action after their investigation. After all, Cooley had been appear “in alphabetical order process. people voted early. On October 13, eight days telling political activists and by party and in alphabetical Their legislation put an end to Of those, 1,317,822 were after Civitas ran the story the public how to violate state order within the party.” the mailers that Republicans used Democrats, 874,205 were on Cooley, the SBE met via law and vote absentee ballots This practice was never to help voters receive absentee Republicans, and 576,273 were telephone to discuss several for relatives and the homeless. questioned. But one would be ballots and to discourage using unaffiliated. The Democrats’ topics, including the Cooley In Pasquotank County, where hard-pressed to find a credible the absentee-by-mail process registration edge failed to debacle. Cooley was recorded in one of study that suggests the top-of- altogether – except, apparently, translate to victory at the polls. In the 17 minutes that SBE her educational sessions, the local the-ballot position does not when Democrats can “help” The mainstream media’s members discussed Cooley’s board of elections has agreed to improve a candidate’s chances voters fill out their ballots. reporting of early-voting turnout actions, SBE Executive Director compare and verify signatures of winning. If someone wants to steal an as a reflection of who is winning Kim Strach’s description to the on absentee ballots during the In 2013, the Republican- election, there are many ways the presidential race seems more board members was sketchy, at approval process. Boards in the led legislature passed voting to do so. Some of them are: an attempt to discourage citizens best. Remember, this meeting other 99 counties should have reforms, and the law was changed rigging the game by changing who are voting for Republicans happened eight days after the been directed to follow suit. so that now the nominees of the rules; voter fraud; media or Trump, both of which most Civitas story about Cooley was Meanwhile, even as the SBE political parties would appear collusion; or any combination mainstream outlets have loudly published. discussed the Cooley situation, in alphabetical order by party of these. criticized over the last several Strach insisted that, according another SBE employee sent beginning with the party whose years. to the SBE’s investigation, instructions to all 100 counties nominee for governor received This should remind us of the Cooley acted alone. Strach stated to disregard the state law that the most votes in the most recent time when it was commonplace categorically that no one else in requires signatures on voter gubernatorial election and in for organizations (mostly media the agency had anything to do registration forms. alphabetical order within the outlets) to commission exit with Cooley’s message. Veronica Degraffenreid, the party. polls and announce winners The executive director offered SBE’s election preparation and Another example of North nccapitolconnection.com November/December 2016 NC Capitol Connection 9 More People Have Jobs in North Carolina BY NCCC STAFF North Carolina’s seasonally has grown by 84,700, the of North Carolina's 100 counties a graph showing the overall economic history, as that is adjusted unemployment rate eighth-highest increase in the in October, while decreasing in decline in the unemployment when the General Assembly was 4.9 percent in October, United States, according to the 22 and remaining unchanged rare over time; and county- passed a variety of key economic matching the national Charlotte Business Journal. in 34. by-county changes in the reforms. unemployment rate, according Not seasonally adjusted Shown below are a map with unemployment rate. 2013 to the state Department of unemployment rates rose in 44 county unemployment rates; is a key year in the state’s Commerce. The state’s October 2016 unemployment rate was 0.7 of a percentage point lower than a year ago. The number of people with jobs jumped 20,166 during the month to 4,616,686. That number was an increase of 113,006 since the same time last year. The October jobless rate showed an increase of 0.2 of a percentage point from September’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.9 percent. Since October 2015, the number of total nonfarm jobs

North Carolina Unemployment (2013 - 2016) 9.2% 8.8% 8.4% 8.0% 7.6% 7.2% 6.8% 6.4% United States 6.0% North Carolina 5.6% 5.2% 4.8% 4.4% 4.0% Jul-13 Jul-14 Jul-15 Jul-16 Jan-13 Jan-14 Jan-15 Jan-16 Jun-15 Jun-13 Jun-14 Jun-16 Oct-15 Oct-13 Oct-14 Oct-16 Apr-13 Apr-14 Apr-15 Apr-16 Feb-13 Sep-13 Feb-14 Sep-14 Feb-15 Sep-15 Feb-16 Sep-16 Dec-13 Dec-14 Dec-15 Aug-15 Aug-13 Aug-14 Aug-16 Nov-13 Nov-14 Nov-15 Mar-13 Mar-14 Mar-15 Mar-16 May-15 May-13 May-14 May-16

2008 - 2013 - 2016 N.C. Unemployment Rate Comparison County 10-08 1-13 10-16 County 10-08 1-13 10-16 County 10-08 1-13 10-16 County 10-08 1-13 10-16

Alamance 7.1 10 4.5 Cumberland 6.8 11 6.2 Johnston 6.1 8.9 4.4 Randolph 6.7 11.1 4.5 Alexander 7.9 10.2 4 Currituck 3.6 10.5 4.5 Jones 6.8 10.7 6.3 Richmond 9.5 13.6 6.9 Alleghany 6.6 12.6 4.9 Dare 4.2 20.1 4.9 Lee 8.2 12.7 5.4 Robeson 8.1 13.9 10.3 Anson 9.5 12.8 5.5 Davidson 7.4 10.7 4.5 Lenoir 7.8 10.8 8.6 Rockingham 7.9 11.7 5.2 Ashe 6.3 13.8 4.3 Davie 6.9 9.3 4.3 Lincoln 7.2 10.8 4.5 Rowan 7.2 10.3 5.2 Avery 5.6 13.7 4.5 Duplin 5.9 10.6 5.4 Macon 5.3 13.3 4.8 Rutherford 8.7 14.7 6.1 Beaufort 7.3 11.8 5.6 Durham 5.4 7.9 4.3 Madison 5.7 10.1 4.4 Sampson 5.4 9 5.5 Bertie 7.5 13.5 6.2 Edgecombe 11.4 16.6 8.8 Martin 6.9 12 6.8 Scotland 11.7 17.8 8.8 Bladen 8.1 13.6 7.3 Forsyth 6.3 9.4 4.5 Mcdowell 8.1 11.9 4.5 Stanly 7 10.1 4.6 Brunswick 6.9 12.2 6 Franklin 6.7 9.6 4.8 Mecklenburg 6.6 9.7 4.5 Stokes 6.1 9 4.5 Buncombe 5.1 8.1 3.6 Gaston 7.7 11.1 5.1 Mitchell 7.7 15.5 5.6 Surry 8.3 11.1 4.5 Burke 8.6 11.6 4.8 Gates 5.2 8.3 4.9 Montgomery 8.3 11.1 5.2 Swain 5.5 19 4.7 Cabarrus 6.4 9.4 4.3 Graham 8.2 20.4 6.6 Moore 6.4 10.1 4.7 Transylvania 5 11.5 4.5 Caldwell 8.3 12 5 Granville 7 10.3 4.3 Nash 8.6 12.7 6.3 Tyrrell 6 13 6.5 Camden 5.4 9.4 4.8 Greene 7 9.8 6.2 New Hanover 5.4 10.4 4.4 Union 6 8.6 4 Carteret 5 10.6 4.8 Guilford 6.7 10.3 4.8 Northampton 7.7 12.1 6.7 Vance 9.8 13.8 7 Caswell 8.2 10.4 5.2 Halifax 9.7 14.7 7.7 Onslow 5.8 9.6 5.2 Wake 5 7.8 4 Catawba 7.9 11.6 4.6 Harnett 7.1 11.5 5.4 Orange 4.2 6.6 3.9 Warren 9.7 12.9 7.1 Chatham 5.5 7.5 4 Haywood 5.7 10.2 4.2 Pamlico 5.7 11.2 5.1 Washington 7.2 13.5 7.1 Cherokee 8.7 14.1 5.2 Henderson 5.1 7.9 4 Pasquotank 6.4 12.4 5.8 Watauga 4.1 9.5 4 Chowan 8.5 11.3 6 Hertford 6.6 11.5 6.2 Pender 6.4 11.5 5.1 Wayne 6.3 9.8 6.5 Clay 6 10.6 4.8 Hoke 6.3 9.7 6.4 Perquimans 6.7 11.1 6 Wilkes 8.2 11.7 4.5 Cleveland 8.5 11.3 5.2 Hyde 4.6 15.7 6.9 Person 7.3 11.1 4.9 Wilson 7.9 13 7.6 Columbus 8.1 13.8 6.3 Iredell 6.5 10.4 4.4 Pitt 7 9.9 5.6 Yadkin 6.1 10.1 4.1 Craven 6.2 10.8 5.2 Jackson 4.3 11.3 4.5 Polk 5 8.2 4.6 Yancey 7.2 13.8 4.7 nccapitolconnection.com November/December 2016 10 NC Capitol Connection 2016 Voter Registrations Show Big Shifts BY SUSAN MYRICK Civitas is happy to offer a way 2012 – Compare these Using voter registration history already taken hold. In the same net gain of unaffiliated voters to track voter registration on its numbers to four years ago when and with the help of Carolina August article, I noted that in that time period. Carolina Transparency website there were 6,665,569 voters on Transparency, I ventured to guess the state has added more than It appears that voter registration (www.carolinatransparency.com). the rolls. Between October 6 (in an August 2016 article) that 361,000 voters to the unaffiliated changes have been setting the The voter registration changes through November 28, 2012, while Democrats hadn’t been ranks in the last four years, and stage for North Carolina’s 2016 database is easy to use and allows Democrats gained 72,723 voters, registering voters in the numbers that this bloc now makes up election. While Gov. Pat McCrory the user to track voter registration Republicans added 36,895, and they once had, they would likely more than 29 percent of the may have lost, Lt. Gov. Dan from week to week, month to the unaffiliated ranks grew by make big gains in the weeks electorate. At the same time, Forest won by 300,000 votes, month and even year to year. 45,178 voters. leading up to Election Day. I Democrats lost 72,919 voters and NC Republicans made big The database is especially useful 2008 – In 2008, a year gains in the Counsel of State, in comparing election years. where records were set in voter See the voter registration numbers kept their veto-proof majority 2016 – Since October 8 registration, in the period between on page 11. in the General Assembly, and through November 26, 2016, the October and November the voter voted for Donald Trump over voter rolls increased to 6,925,568. rolls rose to 6,233,330 voters. Hillary Clinton. Democrats added 46,453 voters, Democrats added 114,566 voters, was wrong: That didn’t happen and the Republican Party gained We invite you to use Republicans gained 45,694 and Republicans gained 35,414 voters this year. a total of 44,198 voters. In www.carolinatransparency/ the unaffiliated ranks grew by and the unaffiliated numbers That doesn’t mean that new fact, all of North Carolina’s voterregistration and make 62,048. grew by 54,951. voter registration trends haven’t 100 counties experienced a some predictions of your own. Grounds For Dismissal: Tony Baldwin's Nepotism BY LISA BALDWIN Buncombe County Schools for our children and the teachers than $600,000 in bonuses for organization directed by his background and co-teaching of (BCS) Superintendent Tony trying hard to make a difference. principals and assistant principals sister, Jan Webster: the Western a “Lesbian 101” class? Small had Baldwin (no relation to this The data continue to point with no performance standards Region Education Service majored in women's studies, but reporter) was recently named out deficiencies in Buncombe’s or accountability measures Alliance (WRESA). after working as a machinist the North Carolina Western academic standards. Twenty- attached. The board also Once again, he violated she obtained her doctorate Region School Superintendent four out of 39 county schools approved about $1 million for conflict of interest rules. Since he in math education from the of the Year. The Western Region scored C’s on the state school sports coaches – but no money and his sister took their positions University of Chicago, under represents 14 of the 115 school report cards last year, after failing for academic team coaches. in 2009, Baldwin has approved Weather Underground bomber districts in North Carolina. grades were curved. Statistically Instead of practicing oversight, over $238,000 for WRESA. and graduate school professor Many have questioned whether speaking, 62 percent of schools the board functions as a rubber While past monies also went to Bill Ayers. he deserves such recognition in scored below a grade of 70. stamp for the superintendent's this organization for professional Small's lesbian partner and light of facts such as: This is a slight improvement excesses. development, the fact that he “wife,” Peggy Baker, has been • Since taking the job in over the 2014-15 school year Moreover, BCS could easily be didn't ask the school board for awarded an average of about 2009, Baldwin has awarded when 77 percent of Buncombe called the Tony Baldwin family approval raises questions. $33,000 per year since 2010 BCS contracts to his family schools were failing to ensure business. In clear violation of In addition, the effectiveness by Baldwin for “professional members and family members our children received a year's conflict of interest rules, the of “professional development” development” at the Early of central office staff. worth of learning. superintendent approved two is questionable. A national College and Community High • As a former women's No wonder that about contracts with a company nonprofit organization called School. Besides working for basketball coach and PE major, 500 students leave each year employing one of his sons. This TNTP studied how professional her nonprofit, EASL Institute, he's forced mandatory PE on for homeschooling, public information was not disclosed development work affected Baker was previously a Chicago all middle school students. And “BCS could easily to the school board by the 10,000 teachers. TNTP found union organizer and locomotive he has encouraged the hiring of superintendent; a whistleblower that less than a third of teachers mechanic. more PE teachers at the expense be called the Tony reported the conflict after the improved performance year- Unfortunately, the November of other elective teachers. Baldwin family contract had been executed. over-year as a result – and election saw the defeat of school • Instead of trying to raise It would have been simple for about a fifth actually did worse. board candidates Laura Bowen academic standards and focus business.” Baldwin to step aside and ask Could the money BCS spent on and Bob Chilmonik, who dollars on teaching and learning, charters or private schools. the assistant superintendent or professional development been supported high academic BCS’ response to poor scores and Over 10 percent of Buncombe school board to approve the better spent on the classroom? standards and aimed to eradicate competition from charter schools County's student population construction contract. Family members of central cronyism. With a school board and opportunity scholarships is homeschooled. Yet Baldwin Plus, Baldwin recommended office staff also benefited from handpicked to run for office by has been to hire spin doctors (a continues to recommend the his other son for a plum teaching Baldwin's generosity with Baldwin and his bureaucratic four-person PR/communications building of new schools, instead job, without revealing that the tax dollars. Remember the buddies, there is not much department) and spend valuable of using the ones we have more applicant was his son. controversial Buncombe math chance that the conflict of education dollars to create a efficiently. Speaking of school contracts specialist, Margaret Small, who interest laws or Baldwin’s failure “positive image.” At Baldwin's recommendation, for family and friends, Baldwin retired one week after the to do his duties will result in All this doesn’t do any favors the school board approved more also approved contracts for an story broke about her Marxist termination.

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nccapitolconnection.com November/December 2016 NC Capitol Connection 11

Changes represent the difference in voter registration between October 8, 2016, and November 26, 2016 County Total Voters Total Change Democrats Democrat Republicans Republican Libertarians Libertarian Unaffiliated Unaffiliated Change Change Change Voters Change STATE TOTAL 6,925,568 156,326 2,735,498 46,453 2,089,975 45,694 32,441 2,131 2,067,654 62,048 ALAMANCE 101,080 2,088 39,502 623 33,111 570 440 37 28,027 858 ALEXANDER 24,410 335 6,550 -7 10,743 175 71 5 7,046 162 ALLEGHANY 7,472 100 2,813 1 2,559 59 36 2 2,064 38 ANSON 17,470 191 11,973 62 2,465 72 20 1 3,012 56 ASHE 19,112 333 5,680 16 8,090 180 66 5 5,276 132 AVERY 12,044 236 1,504 30 7,071 113 49 6 3,420 87 BEAUFORT 33,325 438 13,882 60 10,747 177 98 5 8,598 196 BERTIE 14,263 106 10,324 46 1,542 30 19 0 2,378 30 BLADEN 23,079 354 13,712 95 3,458 149 33 2 5,876 108 BRUNSWICK 95,227 1,702 27,059 223 35,461 777 339 29 32,368 673 BUNCOMBE 198,442 3,714 78,242 1,094 47,815 762 1,288 58 71,097 1,800 BURKE 58,705 883 19,327 96 20,721 464 258 9 18,399 314 CABARRUS 132,422 3,084 41,366 848 49,314 936 669 50 41,073 1,250 CALDWELL 55,440 835 15,140 50 24,821 502 337 11 15,142 272 CAMDEN 7,744 146 2,504 -6 2,378 100 43 2 2,819 50 CARTERET 52,946 956 12,894 73 22,234 536 232 11 17,586 336 CASWELL 15,821 299 8,265 79 3,701 97 32 1 3,823 122 CATAWBA 104,661 1,803 27,480 240 44,898 882 390 28 31,893 653 CHATHAM 51,653 1,313 20,833 350 13,226 346 215 4 17,379 613 CHEROKEE 23,905 236 6,541 -14 9,982 170 112 -4 7,270 84 CHOWAN 10,458 170 5,135 69 2,631 32 23 2 2,669 67 CLAY 9,074 115 2,238 15 3,642 61 37 0 3,157 39 CLEVELAND 63,740 1,430 26,786 261 20,437 672 209 17 16,308 480 COLUMBUS 36,628 569 21,468 124 6,711 256 52 2 8,397 187 CRAVEN 72,035 1,213 25,461 250 24,834 572 353 24 21,387 367 CUMBERLAND 211,823 6,344 99,201 2,466 48,802 1,472 995 95 62,825 2,311 CURRITUCK 18,931 248 4,179 12 6,774 135 129 4 7,849 97 DARE 29,552 398 9,272 59 8,910 135 195 13 11,175 191 DAVIDSON 105,887 2,090 27,738 253 49,391 1,255 414 22 28,344 560 DAVIE 29,736 602 5,733 32 15,245 294 95 6 8,663 270 DUPLIN 30,203 451 14,486 99 8,195 224 93 1 7,429 127 DURHAM 232,258 8,191 129,601 3,577 29,866 635 1,078 83 71,713 3,896 EDGECOMBE 38,724 605 27,568 306 6,267 160 70 4 4,819 135 FORSYTH 255,906 5,801 106,649 2,458 76,985 1,036 1,168 79 71,104 2,228 FRANKLIN 43,517 917 18,604 200 13,187 321 191 15 11,535 381 GASTON 142,979 4,327 46,283 883 54,557 1,884 609 49 41,530 1,511 GATES 8,649 140 4,735 27 1,736 55 23 0 2,155 58 GRAHAM 6,422 31 2,013 -7 2,801 15 17 0 1,591 23 GRANVILLE 38,116 1,071 19,108 327 9,274 361 140 8 9,594 375 GREENE 11,551 201 6,819 87 2,085 79 25 -1 2,622 36 GUILFORD 366,171 12,861 169,547 6,268 95,953 1,820 1,655 94 99,016 4,679 HALIFAX 38,956 545 26,176 210 4,728 117 83 4 7,969 214 HARNETT 74,170 2,701 27,439 752 25,797 1,199 489 52 20,445 698 HAYWOOD 44,345 824 17,408 48 13,305 355 212 13 13,420 408 HENDERSON 82,691 1,476 18,367 288 31,558 550 397 33 32,369 605 HERTFORD 15,508 555 11,450 360 1,484 62 37 4 2,537 129 HOKE 32,265 984 15,464 369 6,854 295 181 25 9,766 295 HYDE 3,434 -26 2,048 -33 535 6 10 2 841 -1 IREDELL 118,147 2,442 31,241 329 49,046 1,140 514 33 37,346 940 JACKSON 29,066 1,175 10,689 237 7,632 455 166 22 10,579 461 JOHNSTON 122,412 3,050 39,092 636 46,913 1,253 612 29 35,795 1,132 JONES 7,565 155 3,821 35 1,842 62 25 -1 1,877 59 LEE 35,518 972 15,005 304 10,210 353 146 10 10,157 305 LENOIR 39,557 470 21,893 145 9,696 167 98 3 7,870 155 LINCOLN 56,275 1,628 14,610 157 24,453 927 224 24 16,988 520 MACON 25,757 488 6,936 36 10,317 238 102 5 8,402 209 MADISON 17,069 461 6,847 90 4,428 151 98 5 5,696 215 MARTIN 17,342 130 10,545 27 3,371 56 41 -1 3,385 48 MCDOWELL 29,434 618 8,815 46 11,016 354 120 3 9,483 215 MECKLENBURG 710,972 16,524 316,846 6,894 172,595 2,380 3,885 293 217,646 6,957 MITCHELL 11,450 258 1,207 37 6,966 136 31 3 3,246 82 MONTGOMERY 16,419 309 7,396 68 4,946 150 49 2 4,028 89 MOORE 66,271 1,050 16,981 137 27,149 602 331 13 21,810 298 NASH 67,102 1,529 34,324 613 19,015 422 177 10 13,586 484 NEW HANOVER 170,075 6,243 55,059 1,514 53,928 1,468 1,139 117 59,949 3,144 NORTHAMPTON 14,883 164 10,894 87 1,446 38 14 0 2,529 39 ONSLOW 106,456 2,758 29,519 429 38,214 1,346 792 51 37,931 932 ORANGE 116,896 1,879 54,376 414 17,483 231 728 45 44,309 1,189 PAMLICO 9,830 186 4,051 32 3,104 85 33 2 2,642 67 PASQUOTANK 28,631 465 13,589 80 5,989 165 146 8 8,907 212 PENDER 40,122 1,071 13,091 89 14,885 491 223 13 11,923 478 PERQUIMANS 10,174 84 4,285 -15 2,676 64 34 0 3,179 35 PERSON 27,099 589 12,532 78 6,724 269 100 9 7,743 233 PITT 122,476 2,721 57,192 1,270 31,720 558 660 39 32,904 854 POLK 16,112 229 4,632 26 5,620 124 73 0 5,787 79 RANDOLPH 93,231 2,228 20,200 264 46,403 1,250 400 33 26,228 681 RICHMOND 30,866 565 17,489 166 5,822 230 69 5 7,486 164 ROBESON 75,979 402 50,775 117 9,586 136 178 6 15,440 143 ROCKINGHAM 60,722 836 23,967 109 20,698 448 199 2 15,858 277 ROWAN 95,292 1,895 29,186 319 38,541 884 335 28 27,230 664 RUTHERFORD 45,020 561 15,850 12 16,393 348 189 7 12,588 194 SAMPSON 38,062 871 16,856 223 13,830 366 101 6 7,275 276 SCOTLAND 23,191 519 13,453 204 3,793 189 46 3 5,899 123 STANLY 41,021 761 11,635 51 17,926 430 115 1 11,345 279 STOKES 31,481 597 8,205 17 15,176 394 152 3 7,948 183 SURRY 45,845 952 14,667 46 19,084 575 124 2 11,970 329 SWAIN 10,632 228 4,196 49 2,692 52 33 1 3,711 126 TRANSYLVANIA 25,531 295 7,053 40 8,274 113 116 2 10,088 140 TYRRELL 2,480 25 1,469 0 348 7 7 2 656 16 UNION 151,116 2,874 39,913 486 63,535 1,242 619 27 47,049 1,119 VANCE 30,443 510 20,345 284 4,454 108 61 5 5,583 113 WAKE 705,318 15,590 266,094 4,969 189,063 2,271 4,228 290 245,933 8,060 WARREN 13,750 199 9,594 110 1,775 48 32 -2 2,349 43 WASHINGTON 8,796 53 5,988 18 1,122 13 24 1 1,662 21 WATAUGA 46,262 553 12,623 218 14,291 131 482 11 18,866 193 WAYNE 76,636 1,913 33,715 704 24,475 685 274 21 18,172 503 WILKES 43,058 710 10,367 42 22,106 439 121 6 10,464 223 WILSON 56,578 1,040 30,214 496 13,946 219 137 12 12,281 313 YADKIN 24,219 380 4,315 12 13,451 227 69 3 6,384 138 YANCEY 13,979 135 5,294 -17 4,926 49 42 7 3,717 96

nccapitolconnection.com November/December 2016 12 NC Capitol Connection

Naughty & Nice

This is our annual list of those in NC who deserve to get everything on their wish lists from Santa, and those who should get only lumps of coal. We’re sure there are many who could be added to the list; we’ll keep them in mind for N&N next year!

NAUGHTY: Dr. E. Lee Cooley, the State Board of in 2013, but by this year the fruits had become evident: Elections (SBE) employee who traveled around the state NC paid off a big debt to Washington, and the ranks of giving “advice” that amounted to tips on how to evade the the unemployed shrank. Moreover, claimants and job election laws. She already got one lump of coal, by being seekers got far faster and better help from the Division fired from the board. But she deserves another for such of Unemployment Security under the tutelage of Dale egregious behavior. And as for the other naughty girls Folwell. That may have helped persuade voters to give and boys at the SBE … him an early present in November: victory in the race for state treasurer. NICE: Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson, who won our Audentia Award for standing firm in a legal battle NAUGHTY: State Treasurer Janet Cowell, for joining the against the U.S. Department of Justice. The award was boards of two companies while she was still in charge of given in recognition of his steadfastness in the face of $90 billion in state assets. The treasurer cannot afford to false accusations of racism from the Justice Department. appear to have the slightest appearance of a conflict of Instead of making a deal to make these charges go interest. away, he stood his ground because he knew that backing down and was wrong. NICE: The concerned citizens all over the state who devoted their time and resources to investigating NAUGHTY: People in Wake County who voted for an possible voting irregularities. These North Carolinians increase in the sales tax to fund an inefficient and wildly play a crucial role in keeping election officials on their expensive transit plan. toes and keeping elections honest.

NICE: Legislators who voted for more tax cuts in 2016 NAUGHTY: In a holdover from late December 2015, the – in this case by increasing the standard deduction Academic Standards Review Commission, for failing amount, for a projected tax cut of $145 million this year. to scrap Common Core. The commission was charged with coming up with better standards, but at the deadline NAUGHTY: The Human Rights Campaign, the failed to do so, leaving students and schools in the lurch. Washington, D.C.-based organization responsible for funding and orchestrating the Charlotte bathroom “NICE”: To Duke University, for providing housing for ordinance that caused the state legislature to pass HB2. 240 students at “1 Duke University Road” in Durham – or, at least, that’s what their same-day registrations said. NICE: Budget writers who set aside another $475 million But curious observers couldn’t find any housing at that into the state’s Rainy Day Fund this year, bringing the location. Were student voters bad boys and girls who total to $1.6 billion. This puts NC on much more sound were lying about where they lived? footing as the inevitable next recession looms. NAUGHTY: To UNC campus administrators whose NAUGHTY: Superior Court Judge Mike Morgan for obsession over safe spaces and microaggression stunts failing to recuse himself from a Voter ID case that would student development and leaves most ill-equipped to have impacted an election he was running in and would deal with the real world. win: the race for the NC Supreme Court. Plus, he gave $1,500 to the Bladen County Improvement Association, a NICE: To the selfless North Carolinians who chipped group accused of vote fraud in the election. in to help the state recover from the double-barreled devastation of Hurricane Matthew and this summer’s NICE: The 4.6 million North Carolinians who came out wildfires. The courage and hardwork of these citizens to make their voices heard at the polls this year. Our helped mitigate the damage of two of the biggest natural system depends on eligible citizens voting. disasters to hit our state in many years.

NAUGHTY: A slew of federal judges: those who struck NAUGHTY: Organizations like the NBA and NCAA who down commonsense elections reforms; those who threw hypocritically cancelled events in NC in alleged protest out the state’s congressional maps just weeks before over HB2. Meanwhile, they hold events in places like the election, throwing the process into disarray; and China and the Bahamas – both with civil rights records those who just threw out the state legislative maps and far worse than even the harshest depiction of HB2. demanded that NC draw new districts and hold elections again in 2017. NICE: Forbes Magazine, for naming North Carolina No. 2 on its list of “Best States for Business,” for the second NICE: Legislators who approved expansions of school year in a row; and also to the employers who have been choice programs in the state by increasing funding for hiring people at record rates in our state. both the Opportunity Scholarship and Disabilities Grant programs.

NAUGHTY: Legislators who failed to get behind the NICE: Supporters of Regulatory Reduction Act of 2016, which would have been a step toward cutting down the red tape that Civitas (of course!). hinders job growth in NC.

NICE: State leaders who championed a gift that Your help is essential really does keep on giving: unemployment reform. Conservative legislators got a lot of flak for the changes to allowing us to fight for freedom – and win.

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