Voter ID passed the House yesterday. Think of it as Voter ID 2.0. It's got the same basic operating system as the Voter ID bill that DIDN'T make it last year.. but has a different user interface.
The bill has people talking - and well it should. It would mean a fundamental shift in what it takes to vote in NC. As it is, you show up, tell the nice folks behind the booth who you are, and they guide you to the voting booth. Getting there is all it takes to get one of those little flag stickers that make you feel proud for the rest of the day.
Voter ID would mean you'd have to have some form of a picture ID with you. At least, for most of us, that would be true. The caveats are what set this bill apart from it's predecessor.
- Multiple forms of ID would work- Older folks (70+) could use their ID at 70 for the rest of their lives- Folks who qualify as disabled wouldn't have to show any ID- People who have no money won't have to pay to get an ID- They're looking at a photo-data base, so if you forget your ID, they can look up your picture
Now.. it's on to the Senate.
Here are a couple reactions to Voter ID 2.0 from across the spectrum.
John Locke Foundationhttp://www.carolinajournal.com/daily_journal/display.html?id=9711
After a long spell in political purgatory, the bill that would spur a fire-sale of state commissioners is on the House floor for a vote. SB10 would replace all the members of a half dozen state commissions, including the one that regulates Gov. McCrory's old employer.. Duke Energy. When we asked the Gov if he planned to recuse himself from appointments to the Energy Commission, he chuckled and replied that he's actually more qualified to make those appointments BECAUSE of his time with duke.
Also on the House floor today.. School Safety. A bi-partisan bill that child advocates generally like. It includes a host of measures intended to make schools safer, including additional school resource officers. It also works to address the mental health component of school safety. Word on the inside: it's likely to pass. If it does, it'll be on to the Senate.
Also worth noting.. Gov. McCrory is trying a new approach to Information Technology in the Tarheel State. He's putting together a new state "lab" to test IT equipment before the state commits to it. The old "try before you buy" method.
This immigration thing feels like a big deal. Putting aside the two big questions (is leadership going to push it? will rank and file go along?), what we’ve got here is a meaningful debate on a key issue dividing the country, this state, our counties and our communities, our families. And the bill that put a face on it, HB786 – RECLAIM NC (caps are theirs), is about as complicated as the issue itself. It would allow illegal immigrants in North Carolina to get something akin to a drivers license – incensing some on the right – but would also subject them to a host of new potentially discriminatory elements – prickling many on the left. This strange brew has made for equally strange bedfellows in opposition. Groups on the far right on the immigration issue, such as Americans for Legal Immigration, are lamenting the state of the NC GOP and slapping the epithet RINO on Republican leadership far and wide (Republican In Name Only). They’ll tell you that any bill that recognizes undocumented immigrants in any way is a bad bill and must be fought on all grounds. And standing right beside those making that claim are immigrant rights advocates and the ACLU. They’ll tell you there’s more bad than good in the RECLAIM NC Act. Their chief concern is a hole in the bill that would mainly apply to migrant workers. Under the proposed law, a person would have to live in NC for a year in order to get a license. So, if you’re only here for a few months each year and you don’t have one of these things.. you’ll still have to live with the rest of the law. So if you’re stopped for having a tail-light out, you’d better be ready to pull out your papers. Both of these groups - and likely a slew of others - are pledging to fight the bill. Which gets us back to those two big questions: is leadership going to push it? will rank and file go along? Stay tuned for another exciting episode… (fade out to Batman theme song)
Americans for Legal Immigration, a conservative group that, like it's name implies, advocates for legal immigration and rails against anything short of it, is "outraged" by a new immigration bill filed in the NC House yesterday. It's called the Reclaim NC Act (HB786) and it's not going to be popular with a lot of the a-team players in the fight over immigration.To many, it may look like a solid compromise: on the one hand, it would extend driving privileges to some who are living here illegally; on the other hand, it would let police officers ask for papers and check legal status during routine traffic stops (mirroring AZ's controversial law). Call it an attempt at balance; call it political pragmatism. Whatever it is.. it's a BIG bill. And there will likely be a good deal of support for it inside the bell-curve. But there are also going to be a LOT of people coming out against it. In the hispanic community, strong possibility people will be skeptical, at best. And among sharp conservatives, like the folks over at Americans for Legal Immigration, it's not going to play well either. They say it's "causing huge shock waves around the state" and that Republican County Chairs are calling, dazed and confused, and wondering just who it was they sent to Raleigh.
Not surprisingly, the Speaker's office has a different take. While Thom Tillis' name isn't on the bill, here's the statement from a spokesperson:
"This bill does not "give" illegals drivers' licenses. It REQUIRES them to obtain a restrictive, temporary, and costly driving permit after submitting to a background check, fingerprinting process, and proving they have car insurance. That's only a portion of the bill Also makes changes to e-verigy, includes Arizona-style language about further criminal behavior by undocumented immigrants, and gives law enforcement greater ability to identify these individuals."
Got it?
Whatever it does or does not do.. the conversation has started. Immigration is officially on the table.
Looks like round two of Sen. Phil Berger’s education plan (SB361) has passed a big hurdle. It had to pass through the Senate Education Committee today in order to move toward a full vote. And it did. If you want to weigh in, you can also find me on Facebook and join the conversation. Here’s a look at the bill as its author wants you to see it. This is from the press release put out by Sen. Berger’s office: “Senate Bill 361 – the Excellent Public Schools Act of 2013 – is a comprehensive plan to strengthen student literacy, improve graduation rates, increase accountability in the classroom, reward effective teachers and give parents tools to make better informed decisions about their children’s education. The bill was introduced by Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham), Sen. Jerry Tillman (R-Randolph) and Sen. Dan Soucek (R-Watauga). Responding to public feedback, bill sponsors incorporated a new strategy for local school districts to identify and reward their most highly effective teachers. They also extended the transition period for employing all teachers on a contract-based system. The Excellent Public Schools Act of 2013 will: - Emphasize the importance of literacy by strengthening teacher education programs, licensure requirements and professional development with a special focus on improving students’ reading skills. Studies have shown that being able to read by the fourth grade dramatically improves students' chances of graduating from high school. - Enable state employees to volunteer in a public school literacy program for up to five hours per month. - Maximize the amount of instructional time students receive by requiring that all end-of-grade/end-of-course tests be administered within the final 10 instructional days for yearlong courses or final five days for semester courses. - Boost accountability in the classroom by employing teachers through contracts that are renewed based on job performance. The current system fosters mediocrity and discourages excellence by granting unlimited job security to all who teach a few years. But beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, local school boards will have the ability to offer the most effective 25 percent of teachers in their districts four-year employment contracts along with a $500 pay raise each year of the agreement, rewarding those who excel in the classroom. All teachers will be employed through contracts by the 2018-2019 school year. - Continue developing the pay for excellence system to evaluate, identify and reward effective teachers. The plan will incorporate ideas from local school districts and the State Board of Education. - Build on efforts to allow parents to identify high-performing, average and struggling schools in overall student achievement by measuring whether they exceed, meet or fail to meet growth goals. Together with the school grading system implemented last year, this will foster greater transparency, encourage struggling schools to improve and empower parents to determine the best options for their children. - Potentially save taxpayers money and relieve teachers from the burden of learning new tests by requiring the Department of Public Instruction to review the quality and value of new Common Core exams and obtain approval from the General Assembly before buying them.”
We've been waiting and it turns out the whispers we heard last week were spot on. A Voter ID bill was filed in the House today.
According to a press release:
'The bill is a sweeping effort to improve North Carolina’s voting process by requiring citizens to show photo identification when voting, and would be fully implemented by 2016. The measure utilizes the 2014 elections as a bridge to identify which voters may be without an accepted form of photo ID – and establishes a program to help citizens acquire a free photo identification card through the Department of Motor Vehicles.'
“We are here to announce that after a deliberate and transparent process, we will be filing a voter ID bill today that protects the integrity of the ballot box and respects the sanctity of the right to vote,” House Speaker Thom Tillis said.
Tillis says the bill also "takes steps to ensure the integrity of provisional and absentee ballots." And it directs the State Board of Elections to study the use of modern technology in voting.
Democrats from the House and Senate held their own press conference today, denouncing this and other voting legislation aimed at curtailing early voting. A full wrap on ABC11 Thursday starting at 4 and on abc11.com.
A lot going on in the hallowed halls of the legislature this week and next. Voter ID fans.. this one's for you. After two hearings (one for the public, the other for the experts), we expect a bill to move soon. It will almost certainly require some kind of photo identification at the polls and that's what pollsters say North Carolinians want. Most polls indicate 6 or 7 in every 10 people want voters to have to show a picture ID before they get their ballots. What to look for when the bill comes out: how many forms of ID will be accepted, whether people will be able to get a picture ID at the polls, and how much money will be allocated to make sure people 1) know about the change and 2) can get a valid photo ID if they don't have one. Also in the House, early voting could be in trouble. HB451- sponsored by Rep. Ed Starnes (republican from western NC) - would cut early voting days from 17 down to 10, eliminating Sunday voting. Supporters say longer early voting favors wealthy candidates, as they can spend more on advertising during those last few weeks. Opponents showcase Florida as a model of what can go wrong when you cut early voting. FL went from 14 days down to 8 and got headlines across the nation after LONG lines at the polls on Election Day. Here in the Tarheel State, recent polling shows nearly 8 in 10 North Carolinians like early voting; more than 7 in 10 have cast a ballot early at some point. In the Senate.. Republicans are looking to jump-starting executions in North Carolina. No one has been put to death in NC since 2006; in part, because of the result of the Racial Justice Act. The Senate bill, sponsored by Thom Goolsby, would eliminate the RJA and get executions back on the fast-track. It has a lot of support in the crime-fighting community but is dreaded by the NAACP and groups who believe racism is alive and well in the courts and needs to be counter-acted. Also, we're seeing the prospect of pure mana for energy companies in NC and potentially rate-payers. Right now, utility companies have to get 3% of their energy from renewable sources. And that mandate is projected to go up 12.5% by 2021. HB298 would eliminate that hike, keep the 'cap' at 3%, and allow utilities to fall UNDER that as their existing contracts run out. That bill should be in committee on Wednesday. We're hearing it has only luke-warm support from House leadership which could mean it's unlikely to fly but it's too early to tell. Other whispers down at the leg: Look for an omnibus REGULATORY REFORM bill to move in the house pretty soon. We expect something on EUGENICS in the house. TAX REFORM is still hot.. both in the Senate (Rucho) and House (Lewis). Sen. Hunt (Raleigh) is still working on a bill that would either put a chill on ABORTIONS or make things safer for women (depending on which end of the telescope you’re looking through). The once hotly debated SB10 (the bill that would strip a half-dozen state COMMISSIONS of their mostly Democratic members and allow Republican leadership to fill them back up) seems to be stalled out. After much consternation between Republicans in the two chambers, we're hearing the Senate (specifically, Sen. Apodaca) is NOT happy with changes made by the House. Ordinarily this would be hashed out in conference committee but we may see it fizzle in inter-party differences. And not to be undersold.. the Senate is slogging through BUDGET numbers. We should start hearing bits and pieces from the various committees in the next couple weeks. Oh.. for you junking who need to know the what/when/how/who on votes in the Legislature.. nothing’s on tap tonight in either the House or the Senate.
Clearly, Wake County is at the center of the state's political universe today. From the Dix deal undone to the kerfuffle over school construction to the effort to weaken the Wake school board.... anyone who has anything to say about any of it can get it off their chests and vent to their state lawmakers TODAY. The Wake delegation is holding a public hearing at 4pm and they're expecting a crowd. They moved the meeting to the biggest room they have: 6th floor, LOB (that'd be the Legislative Office Building; the one behind the main General Assembly building). Issues people will be sounding off on: - a bill that would revoke Raleigh's lease on the Dorothea Dix hospital property; - a bill that would give counties across the state the option to take over school construction and financing;- a bill that would change how Wake school board members are picked, which critics say would tilt the board to a 5-4 Republican advantage;- a bill that would take away some municipal control over what residential houses look like and how they should be built (this one ranges far and wide but Raleigh mayor Nancy McFarlane is among those taking the lead). The bill that would scrap the Dix lease comes up for a full Senate vote TOMORROW. (was going to happen today.. we understand it got pushed due to Passover) Supporters of the bills say they're common-sense measures that would ensure the public is getting its money's worth and give greater accountability in school construction and school board elections. Critics say the legislation would weaken the school board, cripple the idea of a "destination park," and call into question the state's trustworthiness. The Wake County Democratic Party, WakeUP Wake County, Friends of Dorothea Dix, and a spattering of city leaders have sent out tweets and alerts to supporters urging them to pack Monday's public meeting of the Wake County legislative delegation. Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane is asking people who want the Dix deal to stay in-tact to come wearing green.
Pink Stinks! Just ask the group of rabbis delivering a petition to the Governor today. Or, ask the DOT, which has agreed to take the pink stripe OFF the driver licenses of some immigrants. The DMV was going to issue DACA drivers (DACA = Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals; immigrants who were brought to the US illegally as children) "special" licenses with pink strips on them. That brought howls of protest from immigrant advocates and many others.. particularly, those in some communities of faith. Many in the Jewish community equated the pink stripes to stars of David tattooed onto Jews in WWII. Now, the DOT has announced it's taking those pink stripes off DACA licenses.. but officials say they're required by statute to put a distinguishing mark on the face of all temporary licences.. so they'll still say "LIMITED TERM" and "NO LAWFUL STATUS." That won't be good enough for everyone. We'll see what that group of rabbis has to say about it when they deliver a letter of protest signed by 70 religious leaders to the Governor's office today.
So much for the certainty of a Central Park in Raleigh.
A bill to kill the deal moved forward yesterday in a Senate committee. Here's the shorthand:
What WAS: the state (under the signature of fmr gov Bev Perdue) leased the 325 acres that make up the Dorothea Dix property to the city of Raleigh. 500k a year (roughly) for up to 99 years.
What IS: An effort in the state Senate to block it. They say the state (read: taxpayers) got a raw deal.. that the land was under-valued. And there does seem to be some consensus on that.. even though Raleigh mayor Nancy McFarlane makes the point: land is worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
What MAY BE: If the city can't block the move (and we expect they will try), the state will renegotiate the lease with the city. They won't offer up the whole property.. just a part of it. And they'll charge the city more for it. McFarlane says that won't fly.. a smaller park wouldn't hold the same appeal.
