North Carolina NOW Legislative Update #27 — 9/3/19

North Carolina NOW Legislative Update—September 3, 2019

Jump to the full summary and listing of bills NC NOW is tracking at NC NOW Legislative Update #27 (3Sep19). 

There has been movement on both the budget and Medicaid transformation.  To get around the impasse over the vetoed budget, the legislature has passed a slew of stand-alone budget bills addressing specific areas.  Most significantly, bills giving pay raises to various state employees were passed and signed by Governor Cooper because both the vetoed budget and the Governor’s proposed compromise budget agree on these pay raises.  However, the two budgets do not agree on pay raises for teachers.  The bill dealing with teacher pay raises was sent back to committee because Democrats had prepared ten amendments.  Republicans did not want recorded votes against these proposed amendments.  This summary by Rep. Marcia Morey of Durham nicely sums up the situation:

Voices From The Coverage Gap Event Opens People’s Eyes (2019)

Stories are powerful. Filmmaker Rebecca Cerese captured stories from people around the state who are caught in the health care coverage gap. She shared some stories on film and some she told. One of Rebecca’s storytellers came in person and her story of her daughter was heartbreaking.

Watching one of the stories Photo Credit: Gailya Paliga

NC NOW Legislative Update #24 – 7/29/19

You can go directly to the full legislative update, NC_NOW_Legislative_Update #24 (29Jul19), which includes the week’s summary and bill listings. Written by Robin Davis, NC NOW Vice President of Political Action and Lobbyist. Summary includes the state budget impasse and a lawmaker has resigned his seat after pleading guilty to cyberstalking his estranged wife.

Still no vote on whether to override the governor’s veto of the budget and no progress to report on a stand-alone bill to expand Medicaid. The Winston-Salem Journal reported, “As has been the pattern for 11 consecutive sessions, neither the veto override vote nor the bipartisan Medicaid expansion legislation House Bill 655 was addressed.” “The next opportunity will come Monday night [7/29/19], which would represent Day 32 of the stalemate.” See: https://www.journalnow.com/news/state/n-c-house-pushes-possible-votes-on-state-budget-veto/article_00c86259-3fb7-5758-9ed5-9aff47c9c693.html

Event Summary: Many Issues with State Budget, Not Medicaid Alone

A coalition of organizations held a community conversations event “Public Education, Medicaid Expansion and the State Budget” in Fayetteville on Thursday, 7/25/19. Attendees heard from many very well qualified speakers on two panels – the first panel included community leaders, doctors, patients on need for Medicaid Expansion and returning public education to place of importance in state,  and the second panel included  some history of Medicaid expansion in NC and current shenanigans and chances with past and present lawmakers. 

Early full house from back Photo Credit: Gailya Paliga

NC NOW Legislative Update #20 – Updates on State Budget – 6/17/19

See NC_NOW_Legislative_Update #20 (17 Jun 19), with summary and bill listings. Summary follows.

Last week the House and Senate leaders appointed budget conference committee members to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the budget. Budget chairs from both the House and Senate will serve as chairs.  For committee members, see: https://www.ncleg.gov/Legislation/Bills/Conferees/2019/H966.  No Senate Democrats were appointed to the committee, and only two House Democrats were appointed: Rep. Charles Graham, D-Robeson, and Rep. Elmer Floyd, D-Cumberland–the only Democrats who voted for the House budget.

Easy action to help Expand Medicaid in NC (June 2019)

Easy action to help Expand Medicaid in NC. Expanding Medicaid would benefit EVERY SINGLE COUNTY, many many people, and many businesses too – the ripple effect of people doing better.

Did you miss the Medicaid Expansion Vigils across the state on 6/5/19? Or even if you went. Check out this fun activity from the Coalition for Health Action NC (of which NC NOW is part). Also it’s worth it to take the picture and share on social media. I turned the picture with one of my signs into my facebook profile picture.

 Do this and be part of something bigger :

NC NOW Legislative Update #11 – Rushed Anti-Abortion Bill – 15 April 2019

NC NOW Legislative Update #11.15 April 19 includes the summary and listing of NC Senate and House bills.

A terrible abortion bill, SB359/HB602, Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, is on the fast-track to be ratified.  The underlying premise of the bill, that infants showing signs of life after an attempted abortion are either actively killed or left to die, is outrageous and false.  If such thing were to happen, the action would be covered by existing murder and infanticide laws. 

NC NOW Legislative Update #7, GOP Overreach ICE and Medicaid Bill Issue– 18 Mar 19

See whole NC NOW Legislative Update #7.18Mar19 here.

In 2018, voters in North Carolina’s biggest counties elected seven new sheriffs who campaigned on pledges to no longer work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) because their practices have become increasingly brutal under the Trump administration.  The will of the voters was clear.  But this week Republicans filed a bill (HB370) that would force sheriffs to cooperate with ICE or face fines of up to $25,500 per day.  This bill is yet another example of the conservative Republican majority in the legislature attempting to force its agenda on urban counties that elect more moderate to liberal Democrats to local offices. This bill has the support of Republican leadership; Governor Cooper has not stated a position.  For more information, see https://abc11.com/politics/nc-republicans-file-bill-to-force-county-sheriffs-to-work-with-ice/5194070/

Sign from Tuesdays With Tillis protest against ICE taking children. Photo Credit: Michael Eisenberg

The drive to expand Medicaid hit an unexpected hitch this week.  Expanding Medicaid is a priority of Cooper’s legislative agenda, and companion bills (SB3/HB5) have been introduced in both the House and Senate.  But hopes for passage of a bill during this session (2019-2020) were crushed through a rookie error by a freshman legislator. 

NC NOW Newsletter Available – January/February/March 2019

The January, February and March 2019 newsletter is available. January and February have been a whirlwind of activity – 6 women’s marches around the state, getting people to other marches, NC NOW’s annual pro-choice signature ad, and organizing other events and advocacy days. Also, strong reactions to administration activities and lawmakers. There is plenty more to do in March and the rest of the year! NOW chapters choose what they want to do—Charlotte NOW actively working against ICE raids, Fayetteville NOW continues to work collaboratively against racism and sexism. Raleigh NOW is involved with rallies at Senator Tillis’ office highlighting ICE raids and the domestic gag rule (Mar 12).  Following NC NOW’s website and on facebook will help you keep much more up to date on activities.

Charlotte NOW at Charlotte Women’s March – 1/26/19 Photo Credit: Charlotte NOW

ERA is in the air and in the news! See March 5 ERA bill introduction and more on (page 1), and read about ERA Advocacy Day (1/30/19) on page 2.

#SaveScotus and #SaveRoe Town Hall Summaries – Aug 2018

The last two town hall events of the #SaveScotus/#SaveRoe across the state were the last week of August, 2018. Here is a summary of both, with pictures.

The #SaveScotus town hall for the Triad was at Forsyth Central Library in Winston-Salem on 8/29/18. Jen Ferris from Progress North Carolina moderated (see her standing by podium in the picture). Panelists (pictured) are Elizabeth Freeze, Director of Philanthropy at Planned Parenthood Votes South Atlantic; Gailya Paliga, President of NC NOW; and Alicia Diggs, Board Secretary of NC AIDS Action Network (NCAAN). Ms. Diggs is also a medical case manager at Positive Wellness Alliance in Lexington, so she deals directly with patients.

       #SaveSCOTUS town hall in Winston-Salem on 8/29/18
       People kept coming in! Photo Credit: Matt Martin