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I'm so old I remember when #vagov candidates suspended their campaigns for a bit because of the 9/11 attacks and I always appreciated the endurance of the unspoken "let's not be shitty, just for today" rule in politics that endured after
And now North Carolina Republicans are using the anniversary of 9/11 to be extra shitty.
So tell me more about "decency" and "civility" and how Democrats shouldn't swear.
So tell me more about "decency" and "civility" and how Democrats shouldn't swear.
Audio here. NC GOP lawmakers' obvious attempt to usurp the will on state voters, who broke their veto-proof majorities last fall, begins at 5:05. Republicans took advantage of some Dems' absence to override Cooper's veto of a Medicaid bill.
No cameras in the chamber, alas, because Republicans obviously didn't want video of what they were about to pull
The fact that North Carolina Republicans pulled this stunt the morning after a special election necessitated by actual election fraud by their own party should tell you everything you need to know about the GOP in this state
That term you're looking for is "bad faith"
This fight isn't over
You're probably wondering just what it was that North Carolina Republicans pulled a fast one to override the gov's veto of.
It was the state budget-- all the state's funding, social programs, policy priorities, etc.
It was the state budget-- all the state's funding, social programs, policy priorities, etc.
Instead of observing a national tragedy and honoring the memories of the fallen, North Carolina Republicans took advantage of the Democrats absent to recognize a local victim to pull a political fast one.
NC GOP lawmakers have had the veto override vote on the calendar since +July 9+. They've just been waiting for a time they had the technical quorum and margin required -- something made possible by their Dem colleagues attending a 9/11 memorial this a.m.
newsobserver.com/news/politics-…
newsobserver.com/news/politics-…
Just when I think North Carolina Republicans can no longer shock me by the depths to which they'll sink to exercise their will in the most jacked up and undemocratic way possible,
Dear North Carolina GOP:
Reportedly the governor and one House Democrat were attending 9/11 ceremonies while Republicans were pulling overriding the veto of their garbage budget. The gov rejected it because it doesn't contain Medicaid expansion, sufficient ed funding, etc.
NC Republicans have been working for months to persuade individual legislators to side with them on overriding the gov's veto, promising them pet projects in their districts. Some might even have sided with Rs if they hadn't been lied to about whether a vote was happening today.
But now North Carolina Dems are super unified in rejecting this extreme act of Republican bad faith on the anniversary of a national tragedy. The GOP is going to have a tough time peeling off the lone Democrat needed to also override the veto in the Senate.
Speaking of North Carolina Republicans trying to peel off that Senate Democrat to override the budget veto:
Attending a 9/11 memorial is ... letting the terrorists win, according to NC GOP lawmaker @JasonSaine97th
And by the by, here's the proof that NC Democratic lawmakers were lied to by the GOP about whether any votes would be held this morning
Oh he mad
Another important note about @NCGOP lawmakers' antics this morning:
State-level Republicans have been all about this since coming to power in legislatures and governorships in 2011. Trump is the worst expression of it, but no, it's not new
I've been on the front lines of it since my first stint with DLCC in 2010, and let me tell you, 
... speaking of tired, NC Dems must be exhausted. Because the GOP put the veto override vote on the calendar every day since 7/9, they've missed life events, work -- even curtailed cancer recovery to show up at every session jic it was suddenly brought up pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2019/09/11/gov…
And NC House Republicans had led Democrats to believe that no votes would be held today until the afternoon. Democrats thought they could attend to personal business and go to 9/11 commemorations--which at least one Dem, in fact, did
Sigh. I know it makes a good narrative but I just can't abide distorted facts. Only one of the Democrats absent from the House vote this morning was at a 9/11 ceremony. It doesn't make what the GOP lied to accomplish any less reprehensible. beta.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/…
Core facts about the NC situation as they're currently known:
Dem Gov. Cooper wanted Medicaid expansion in the budget.
Rs passed a budget with no Medicaid expansion (among other shortcomings)
Gov vetoed it months ago
Dem Gov. Cooper wanted Medicaid expansion in the budget.
Rs passed a budget with no Medicaid expansion (among other shortcomings)
Gov vetoed it months ago
Rs are still kinda new to not being able to undermine the gov's authority, and they scheduled a veto override vote every day since July 9, but after last fall's elections, they no longer have the numbers ... as long as virtually every Dem member is present during Session.
Democratic lawmakers have jumped through personal, professional, even medical (one member is undergoing cancer treatment) hoops to be present in the required numbers pretty much all the time since July 9, just to sustain the gov's veto.
Which brings us to today, 9/11:
Republican House members led Dems to believe no votes would be held until the afternoon--morning session is often sorta pro forma
Relying on this assertion, many Dems planned to be in later--and at least one attended a 9/11 memorial ceremony
Republican House members led Dems to believe no votes would be held until the afternoon--morning session is often sorta pro forma
Relying on this assertion, many Dems planned to be in later--and at least one attended a 9/11 memorial ceremony
Republicans, who--as indicated by the scheduled-but-never-held veto override vote--were lying in wait for just this moment, did a quick count of Rs vs. Ds present this morning and abruptly held the vote.
Almost half of the chamber's 120 members were absent.
Almost half of the chamber's 120 members were absent.
Present Dems protested, but to no avail.
Now it's up to the state Senate to sustain the governor's veto.
...which is dicey, since Republicans only have to peel off one Dem to override it.
Now it's up to the state Senate to sustain the governor's veto.
...which is dicey, since Republicans only have to peel off one Dem to override it.
So far, all indications are that Senate Dems will stand firm.
But standing firm may not be enough when facing a GOP caucus that's clearly deeply comfortable with acting in bad faith to get what they want.
But standing firm may not be enough when facing a GOP caucus that's clearly deeply comfortable with acting in bad faith to get what they want.
By all appearances, what the North Carolina House GOP pulled today was legal.
Deeply jacked up, but legal.
But they have less to lose now than ever, so we should expect no shame from them henceforth.
Deeply jacked up, but legal.
But they have less to lose now than ever, so we should expect no shame from them henceforth.
You see, a North Carolina court just ordered new, fairer maps for next year's state legislative elections.
And a fairer map could mean Democrats flip one or both chambers in the 2020.
Which is the NC GOP's worst nightmare because ...
And a fairer map could mean Democrats flip one or both chambers in the 2020.
Which is the NC GOP's worst nightmare because ...
... Dems winning a majority in a NC legislative chamber means Rs would not have full control of the next round of redistricting.
And with a Democratic state Supreme Court that won't support extreme GOP gerrymanders, they might actually have to run on fair maps next decade.
And with a Democratic state Supreme Court that won't support extreme GOP gerrymanders, they might actually have to run on fair maps next decade.
... okay that's pretty much the situation as it stands now. Just wanted to remedy some mischaracterizations I've seen floating around.
Thank you for coming to my Tar Heel Talk.
Thank you for coming to my Tar Heel Talk.
File under: Bullshit Headlines
Because instead of "opening" an honest headline writer would have gone with "situation Republicans created by actively lying to Democrats about whether there would be votes on the morning of the 18th anniversary of 9/11" nsjonline.com/article/2019/0…
Because instead of "opening" an honest headline writer would have gone with "situation Republicans created by actively lying to Democrats about whether there would be votes on the morning of the 18th anniversary of 9/11" nsjonline.com/article/2019/0…
Getting ready to start on my newsletter and dive deep into North Carolina Republicans' garbage like
