’Tis the Season to Wax Nostalgic

Legislative News by Nelda Holder –

I was just out of high school when Governor Terry Sanford was lobbying for and creating the Research Triangle Park.

The park was an expansive track of land (and an expansive notion of its use) between Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, with immediate investments and development by the high-tech industry. It was a brilliant project that continues to feed the state’s economy, education, and brain trust to this day.

The project was planned to produce not just economic stimulus, but to develop educational ties with the state’s universities and promote both industry and education in the state. It was in keeping with Sanford’s dedication to education in this state, from the earliest days through college and into industry. That included the desegregation of our public schools—at last.

Those were pretty heady days in this state. There was a generosity of spirit stirring advancement in education, job opportunities, and social equity. I remember the period as one of dignity and aspiration for North Carolinians.

I knew too little about the machinations of the General Assembly back in those days to understand how the heck Sanford pulled all that off. Unfortunately, I have learned perhaps too much about the General Assembly since that time.

I say all this because I want to admit my own bias. I’m a Carolina native who loves my state for many reasons, including its awesome natural features and its hardscrabble durability of heart. And for many years, I expected that government would be all about enhancing the essence of this place we call home and uplifting its people while wisely managing its resources.

Well, I cannot say that the accomplishments of one of the longest legislative sessions in history this year have proven me right.

This legislature, under tight, almost monolithic Republican control wielded by Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore, has continued to degrade education in this state through its treatment of our vital resource: our teachers and school-affiliated staff.

For two years they failed to produce a budget that a responsible governor could sign, and now in a third attempt at meeting the budgetary needs of the state they have presented our teachers with a 5% raise over the coming two years, without accounting for the lack of any salary increase over the past two years. And we all know what the past two years have been like for our teachers.

Meanwhile, the voucher system the Berger-Moore monopoly has produced—supposedly to offer an opportunity for lower-income families to utilize private schools in their communities if they so choose—has drained away public education money without accountability. As observed in this column before, there are no requirements regarding teacher certification, state-approved curriculum, or anti-discrimination policies in the private schools receiving this public money. All this while our true public schools and our obligation to the state’s children therein suffer without the appropriate financial support.

And the leadership continues to fight the Leandro court decision designated to provide equal educational opportunities to North Carolina’s public-school children—as we have written about repeatedly. For illustration of the impact that decision could be having in Buncombe County, the estimated Leandro budget impact (provided by EveryChildNC), had it been implemented as court-instructed, would have seen $79,961,531 in supplementary Leandro funds coming to Buncombe County in 2022.

But take time to be thankful for small blessings as the 2021 clock winds down. Despite another attempt to close the Medicaid coverage gap in this state (SB 402)—funded by a federal benefit program—the leadership has sidestepped this simple provision yet again, despite the governor’s repeated urging. They have chosen instead to leave some 372,400 uninsured non-elderly adults without eligibility for coverage. However, all you Tiny Tims out there, be thankful for crumbs. For the first time, there has been the creation of a new committee to “study” Medicaid expansion in the state.

All this, and a gentler, kinder approach to corporate taxes have filled out the legislative stocking for the season. In legislation enacted in November (SB 105), corporate income tax will begin to phase out in this state in 2025. This has been a long-sought goal as Republican majorities began to move the 6.9% tax rate down in 2013. The final phase-out of the remaining 2.5% will end in 2030.

Small rays of hope

I do not intend this editorial as a partisan “rant.” I am—and have been most of my life—registered as an unaffiliated voter. I do my best to judge candidates on an individual basis, and not according to a party determination.

I encourage more of the people in this state to consider a New Year’s resolution to think beyond party in the coming election year. And “think” would actually be the operative word. Given the deep divides evident in the politics of this country, think about whether the party and/or candidate you are considering supporting has the better interests of our state and its people in mind—or are they simply running to win on an agenda that portends more divisive rhetoric and action.

Are they working to reinforce your fears, or are they calling on you to listen to your better angels—those angels who would have you support those issues and undertakings that would increase healing and seek the common good in our society?

Some of you will certainly disagree with my judgment of the priorities that meet with legislative approval, and that’s “politics” for you. But it is my holiday wish that this state return to a generosity of spirit that sees out governing bodies, especially our powerful state government, grasp a vision of goodness in this state beyond party mantras. It’s time for us to work together, my friends, to promote the health and wellbeing of this bountiful and beautiful place we call home … and to support the overall well-being of its inhabitants. All of them.

Just the facts, ma’am

Final notes in 2021 about the most recent undertakings in the State House.

Accountability and Fair Play in Athletics (HB 91/SL 2021-184): A new law passed to restructure oversight of interscholastic athletic activities in public high schools. (Approved by the governor.)

2021 Appropriations Act (SB 105/SL 2021-180): The infamous Budget Bill, all 628 pages of it. Read at your own peril. (Approved by the governor.)

Election Day Integrity Act (SB 326): Proposal to change the date by which mail-in ballots must be received in order to be counted (and other changes). (Vetoed by the governor.)

Act to Clarify Expiration of Statewide Emergency … (HB 264): Proposal to remove certain gubernatorial powers under statewide emergencies. (Vetoed by the governor.)

And of course, there’s another lawsuit. This one was actually filed in September (Green v. Bell, US District Court for the Western District) to purge eligible voters from the voter rolls in 40 NC counties. The Southern Coalition for Social Justice and pro bono counsel from Womble Bond Dickinson LLP have asked a federal judge to allow two voting rights organizations (NC A. Phillip Randolph Institute and the League of Women Voters of NC) to intervene.

Legislative farewells

As December kicked off, Buncombe County was hit with the major political news that three veteran legislators have chosen to end their seemingly endless treks to Raleigh. Here’s a personal salute to the three, who have exhibited a generosity of character and of time and energy in representing the residents of their district and home turf—as well as the interests of the state at large.

Thank you to Rep. Susan Fisher (D), who has represented House District 114 since 2004 (elected deputy leader by her House Democratic colleagues in 2024). And thank you to Brian Turner (D) of District 116, ending his fourth term in the House. And likewise, an appreciative nod to John Ager (D) of District 115. If you see one of these folks around town, maybe you’ll shake their hand and ask them just how many times they had to make the Old Fort crossing on your behalf to get to the flat land of Raleigh. Jobs well done, folks!

And if any of you citizens are ready to take your turn in the Legislature, filing started on December 6. But then it stopped—temporarily—on December 9. The NC Supreme Court halted filing because of a pair of lawsuits alleging partisan gerrymandering in the redistricting maps just passed by the Legislature. We’ll have more on this story in January, folks!

And now – enjoy your holidays!

Celebration is a necessary act in these days of alarm—physical, social, political. As the quiet of midwinter surrounds us, may it calm our souls while lighting our smiles. Thank you for taking the time to visit our Urban News, and for caring about our community.

Nelda Holder is the author of The Thirteenth Juror – Ferguson: A Personal Look at the Grand Jury Transcripts.