Weekly Recap: Catch up on the news you missed from 3/5-3/11
Two bills similar to ones previously vetoed by Gov. Roy Cooper have returned to his desk, the governor delivered his final State of the State Address and lawmakers advanced Medicaid expansion.
Greetings all and happy March Madness! Before we get to this week’s political news, I’m pleased to announce the formation of a new caucus: The Anderson Alerts Bracketologists, home to NC political junkies who think they know best.
On Sunday night, the NCAA will reveal its field of 68 men’s and women’s college basketball teams to appear in the tournament. And I want to see your brackets!
MAKE YOUR BRACKETS BELOW:
As a small incentive, I’ll be giving away a pair of complimentary newsletter memberships. The first place finisher on the men’s and women’s side will each get a free 1-month subscription. If you are already a paid newsletter subscriber, you can choose between a free 1-month membership for yourself or give the prize to a friend.
Rules/Redemption
One men’s and women’s bracket entry allowed per user. All picks must be made before Round of 64 play begins. For men’s basketball, picks must be submitted by 12:15 p.m. Thursday, March 16. Women’s Round of 64 play begins on Friday, March 17. To claim your prize, email me at andersonbryan95@gmail.com after the tournament has ended.
Without further ado, let’s take a look back at the week that was in North Carolina politics:
Cooper’s final State of the State Address
On Monday, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper addressed top lawmakers and state leaders. You can check out the full recap of his State of the State Address here, as well as the Republican response from Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson.
Of particular note from the governor’s speech: A plea for lawmakers not to take up divisive social issues, such as House Bill 2, the so-called bathroom bill.
“Keep us off the front lines of those culture wars that hurt people and cost us jobs so that we can continue our successful bipartisan work,” Cooper said.
The governor also cautioned against heightened abortion restrictions, increased tax cuts for corporations and blockage of education funding.
Cooper focused much of his speech on jobs created during his administration and praised bipartisan efforts to expand Medicaid.
Robinson delivered a mild-mannered speech that felt less like a response to Cooper and more like a rebranding effort ahead of an anticipated 2024 gubernatorial candidacy.
In his speech, Robinson didn’t discuss three issues he is most known for passionately discussing and dividing people over: Abortion, guns and the LGBTQ community.
The lieutenant governor did voice concerns about how K-12 students are taught. While he said a college degree wasn’t necessary for many important jobs, he announced he recently got a four-year degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
👨🎓Helping kids
I recently spoke with state Rep. Ashton Clemmons, a Guilford County Democrat, who co-sponsored a bipartisan measure that would provide K-12 students with age appropriate tips on suicide prevention.
Clemmons said the bill was informed in part by a personal experience. She said her sixth grade daughter had been approached by a classmate who had confided in her that she was contemplating suicide. Not sure what to do, Clemmons’ daughter asked her mom what she should tell her friend. Clemmons didn’t have a good answer. After reaching out to a school guidance counselor, Clemmons was advised to add the 988 suicide prevention hotline into her daughter’s phone so she could share it with any classmates in need of help.
“If we’re not helping our children who are struggling with whether to continue on our Earth, how could anything be more of a priority than that?” Clemmons told me.
Cooper’s first veto tests
On Tuesday and Thursday, North Carolina’s Republican-controlled legislature sent Cooper a pair of bills similar to measures he had previously vetoed.
Under Senate Bill 53, guests who stay at hotels, motels, inns, vehicle parks, campgrounds or similar lodging for less than three consecutive months wouldn’t have tenancy rights outlined in current state law. The measured cleared the House by a vote of 82 to 29, with 15 Democrats supporting the measure. Cooper has until Friday night to act on the bill.
Under House Bill 40, North Carolinians who participate in violent protests and cause at least $2,500 in property damage would face a felony charge punishable by up to 63 months in prison. The measure cleared the Senate by a vote of 27 to 16, with one Democrat supporting the measure. The bill had passed the House last month with support from six Democrats. Cooper has until Sunday night to act on the bill.
Republicans already have veto-proof control of the Senate but are one seat shy in the House. If one Democrat crosses party lines in the House or two Democrats in the chamber are absent during a voting session, the measure could become law over Cooper’s objection.
🏥Medicaid expansion bill language is released
The language of the compromise Medicaid expansion bill that had been struck among GOP leaders was released this past week. In the bill: some certificate of need overhauls, but not to the level Senate Republicans wanted. Not in the bill: Allowing advanced-practice nurses to treat patients without a doctor’s supervision.
On Wednesday, I provided an overview of what did and didn’t make its way into the legislation.
🏀March Sadness
It’s Selection Sunday, the night where the NCAA selects 68 men’s and women’s college basketball teams to compete in March Madness.
One team that’ll be absent from the tourney: The UNC Tar Heels men’s basketball team. That’s because they lost their regular season finale to Duke University and were defeated in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals by the University of Virginia.
UNC was the runner-up in the NCAA Tournament last year. Despite having nearly all of their starters return to play this season, the Tar Heels find themselves out of the NCAA Tournament.
At 6 p.m. Sunday on CBS, the men’s bracket will be revealed. What I’ll be watching: N.C. State, Clemson and Pittsburgh. I’d expect two of the three teams to advance, but which team will be left on the chopping remains less clear. I’m hoping N.C. State and Clemson can represent the Carolinas.
What to watch this week
TUESDAY: At 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday, North Carolina’s Supreme Court will rehear a redistricting case that stands to shape political power in the state for the next eight years. The prior court’s 4-3 liberal majority in December upheld a state House map but ordered a redrawn state Senate map. The finding came as justices ruled partisan gerrymandering violates the state constitution. But in a rare move, the new conservative 5-2 majority in February ordered a rehearing. The decision prompted criticism from Democrats and the remaining two liberal justices about a lack of respect for precedent and a heightened public perception of partisanship on the bench.
We already know we’ll get a new congressional map, but what that plan will look like and whether courts can redraw a challenged map will be up for debate among the justices. Regardless, North Carolinians can expect to see different voting maps that will likely dilute the voting power of Democrats. The biggest thing to watch on Tuesday will be how the justices react to competing views on the part of the state constitution that says state House and Senate maps “shall remain unaltered until the return of another decennial census of population.” Voting rights groups would argue that the Republican-controlled legislature already had their chance to draw voting maps, while attorneys for Republican lawmakers would argue that the legislature ought to be able to again go back to the drawing board.
WEDNESDAY: At 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday, the North Carolina Supreme Court will rehear a case on whether the state’s defunct voter ID law is constitutional. In a 4-3 decision split along ideological lines, the high court upheld a lower court’s decision that the requirement for photo ID at the polls was racially discriminatory and must be struck down. But in February, the new conservative majority court decided it would rehear the case.
FRIDAY: Cooper has until Friday night to decide whether to sign, veto or let become law without his signature a bill that would eliminate tenant protections for guests who stay at motels and similar lodgings during the first 90 days of their stay. Cooper vetoed a similar bill in 2021. Cooper could also act on an anti-rioting bill similar to a measure he vetoed in 2021. The governor has until Sunday night to act, but could very well announce his decision on Friday.
📖5 essential reads
Canton mill’s closing means uncertainty for county, region (Cory Vaillancourt // Smoky Mountain News)
ACC tournament the biggest story in Greensboro. There’s barely a hometown paper left to cover it (Andrew Carter // Raleigh News & Observer)
Some Election Officials Refused to Certify Results. Few Were Held Accountable. (Doug Bock Clark // ProPublica)
A Jury Of One’s Peers (Michael Hewlett // The Assembly)
NC legislative leaders agree to 6.5% budget increase (Colin Campbell // WUNC)