Quote :

"This state isn't gonna reach its potential till we stomp these fucks out."

Before resorting to violence against your political opponents, have you asked yourself why the COA has 15 judges currently?

[Edited on April 29, 2017 at 6:38 AM. Reason : ...]

4/29/2017 6:36:33 AM

Oh god, here come the bullshit "workload" arguments. Wake the fuck up already.

4/29/2017 7:16:23 AM

So the NC COA has always had 15 judges?

4/29/2017 7:45:28 AM

The "Well democrats did it 17 years ago" argument is pretty god damn insulting. First of all they were expanding the court to meet a growing case load, which is appropriate IMO. Whereas Berger just wants to shrink the court to deny Cooper's rightful appointments and consolidate power. Not to mention he's probably pissy since a good 1/3 of his legislation gets bitch slapped down by the courts. Secondly, that was 17 years ago. I was getting my learners permit FFS. Throwing ancient history in my face is beyond insulting.

4/29/2017 8:55:43 AM

So it's a blatant power grab when the GOP does it, but a legitimate exercise in legislative authority to help with case loads and not motivated at all by politics when Gov. Hunt and the dems do it. Got it.

4/29/2017 9:15:30 AM

Dems expanded it to meet workload, the court has been expanded in similar ways at least a few times since the court was first formed for the exact same reasons. It's clear the ONLY reason Berger is pursuing the very first reduction in the number of judges is to deny Cooper his rightful appointments. The republican judge that resigned recently so that Cooper could still appoint a new judge made this exact argument.


As a lawyer I thought you would have more interesting not politicizing the court system.

[Edited on April 29, 2017 at 9:47 AM. Reason : Party over country/state every time?]

4/29/2017 9:39:51 AM

Did I actually admit to being a lawyer on here? I must have had a moment of weakness, my apologies.

I just wish people would stop pretending only the other side plays politics. If the dems have no interest in "politicizing the court system," why did Gov. Cooper immediately move to appoint a dem to fill McCullough's seat? Surely not bc of politics, right?

4/29/2017 10:03:17 AM

The only reason we even know the new judge's affiliation is because the GOP legislature made judge elections partisan races in 2014 (because Berger thought it would help get his son elected). Dems moved to make judge races non-partisan circa 2004.

I know Dems play politics, they are just exceedingly less cynical about it than the NCGOP whose obvious goal is to consolidate all power to the legislature.

4/29/2017 10:46:20 AM

Final point on this issue - no, we know about a judge's affilations not bc the GOP made elections partisan again (as if the move to make them non-partisan a decade or so ago wasn't politically motivated at all...) but bc judges almost always align themselves with their party when running (and bc you can easily just search for voter registration records in NC). Have you ever seen a voter card/palm card at a polling place? Judges are always included on partisan voter cards/palm cards and regularly appear at partisan campaign events.

4/29/2017 12:40:44 PM

http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/unc/article148425319.html

5/3/2017 7:42:11 PM

SC declines to take up the NC Voter ID case

http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/15/politics/supreme-court-north-carolina-voter-id/index.html

5/15/2017 1:52:49 PM

HB 279 set to be heard in tomorrow's Reg Reform comm meeting at 1pm. Thought it might have died during crossover, but apparently not. If your state rep is on reg reform please call/email them and shame them into voting against this stupid bill. Much thanks.

http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/Committees/committees.asp?sAction=ViewCommittee&sActionDetails=House+Standing_133

Quote :

"This one is bi-partisan too but the R's control the legislature so it's getting filed in this thread. HB 279 seeks to regulate the scourge of fantasy sports... http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2017&BillID=H279 Very ambiguous language in this bill that I could easily see being applied by some busybody at the secretary of state's office to your office fantasy league - despite the "good intentions" of the bill drafters for it to only apply to those big fantasy leagues that advertise incessantly. But this still accepts the premise that fantasy sports should be regulated by the state... a premise I reject."

5/16/2017 7:25:35 PM

Thanks for all the calls and emails TSB! Reg Reform actually voted ^ this bill down today during the committee hearing 4-7.

http://www.wral.com/fantasy-sports-bill-fails-in-committee/16707404/

[Edited on May 17, 2017 at 3:08 PM. Reason : ...]

5/17/2017 2:40:15 PM

another huge L to put on the board

5/22/2017 11:30:42 AM

I like this quote:

Quote :

""Then we should probably outlaw investing and other things in this state if you’re looking at past performance and guessing how they’ll do," Saine replied. "It’s a matter of definition, a matter of preference.""

Don't tread on memy fantasy sports teams!

5/23/2017 10:22:39 AM

http://www.wccbcharlotte.com/2017/06/01/nc-senate-approves-bill-allowing-sunday-morning-alcohol-sales/

come on house...

6/2/2017 4:42:19 PM

SolarBees were an utter failure in Jordan. Better come up with another "solution," and slip it in the budget so we can delay implementation of the Jordan Water Quality Rules again. We'll be 10 years behind by the time this study is complete:

http://www.wral.com/jordan-lake-pollution-gets-another-experimental-treatment-in-house-budget/16738875/

6/5/2017 12:13:49 PM

Quote :

""We’ve found a company here in North Carolina called SePRO that actually has done this in a few smaller lakes and is interested in doing a trial on it," Rep. Larry Yarborough, R-Person, said during a Thursday night budget debate while defending the provision. SePRO, which has a research and development unit in the Nash County town of Whitakers, has a very powerful lobbyist in Harold Brubaker, a former Republican House speaker."

Oh, you just happened to "find" this company out in Whitakers? That has used this technology mostly on lakes that are about 10 acres? So you think it's a good idea to experiment with the technology on a 14,000 acre drinking water reservoir?

Especially after the SolarBee fiasco, I'm not sure how they can get away with this.

6/5/2017 12:25:47 PM

This Jordan Lake thing is turning out to be embarrassing. SolarBees was stupid. And I'm not a fan of chemical solutions either.

6/5/2017 1:14:22 PM

there is a lot of development and agriculture that would be impacted by stricter nutrient reduction rules, they will do everything they can to avoid

6/5/2017 2:00:32 PM

Yes, but these aren't the first of these types of rules, and the Falls Lake Rules are more stringent and were written later, but it's my understanding they've already been in effect for several years. I believe it's the lobbyiss and represenatives in certain parts of the Jordan watershed that keep delaying their implementation.

6/5/2017 2:11:24 PM

yeah that's my point, the lobbyists will fight this as long as they can. jordan lake rules have already been implemented and then unimplemented a couple times.

6/5/2017 2:50:07 PM

What's really short sighted is this will only increase the long-term cost of compliance. The EPA will eventually require the state to implement an approved plan (maybe not under Trump, but eventually. Groups can just sue the EPA or state until they comply with the clean water act.). The state WILL eventually implement the Jordan Lake rules (IMO). In the meantime, the Jordan lake watershed is one of the faster growing areas of the state. Every single McMansion development in that watershed will eventually have to retrofit stormwater controls, and often retrofits are more costly and it often pushes costs off the developer and onto the city/county/HOA/landowners, etc.

6/5/2017 3:18:15 PM

^^some parts of the Jordan Rules have been implemented, but some, like those for new development, were never implemented and have just been continually delayed (although several local governments voluntarily implemented them).

6/5/2017 3:55:50 PM

Anybody wanna join the Haw River Assembly with me? I was a member at one time and then let my dues lapse.

Such a wonderful river, and we should be thankful we have something like that this close to us. At least for those of us still in the Triangle.

6/5/2017 4:05:05 PM

this shit with legislative districts has got to end. If there is anything we are owed, it's legislative districts that can make it through the court system and then stick to those districts for at least a handful of years. Otherwise we are in this limbo where representatives from illegal districts are continuing to serve, until the next map and election comes along, where that map will also be smacked down in court, and representatives from illegal districts will continue to serve, ....... and on and on. We gotta break the cycle.

6/8/2017 6:02:46 PM

Conceal Carry without a permit, y'all!!!!!

6/9/2017 10:10:36 AM

Do you own a questionable environmental technology company or patent? Just dial up your local republican, make a significant contribution, and you can be sure they'll get your technology in a bill forcing DEQ to permit it. Yay! Democracy!!!

http://www.wral.com/-garbage-juice-spray-bill-heads-to-cooper/16765306/

6/18/2017 9:40:24 AM

Was always a questionable budget at best...

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/06/21/north_carolina_republicans_budget_prevents_governor_from_suing.html

6/22/2017 10:37:55 AM

Slate is a leftist tabloid

6/22/2017 11:29:56 AM

but this[0] is not a leftist tabloid.

[0] http://www.ncleg.net/Applications/BillLookUp/LoadBillDocument.aspx?SessionCode=2017&DocNum=4728&SeqNum=0

6/22/2017 11:35:57 AM

Well done

6/22/2017 11:41:00 AM

No appreciation for the Brunch Bill?

6/22/2017 12:39:03 PM

i thought the house was the obstacle for the brunch bill

6/22/2017 1:19:07 PM

fucking dickheads removed grocery stores from the brunch bill

#BigGovt
#GovtIsChurch

6/22/2017 3:28:38 PM

^^,^Actually the house expanded the scope. But let your hate get in the way of enjoying additional freedom provided by the NCGOP.

Quote :

"The House Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee expanded that Thursday to allow supermarkets and other locations to sell beer and wine earlier on Sundays as well."

Good going, boys!

6/22/2017 3:39:34 PM

i'm saying i thought it passed the senate weeks ago and had lots of support there and now the obstacle is the house, was there another vote today?


Edit: okay yeah still needs one more committee then floor votes



[Edited on June 22, 2017 at 3:57 PM. Reason : .]

6/22/2017 3:54:15 PM

^^ah....well, it's a start. I don't hate the NCGOP, just hate dumbass bills that tell me what time I can and can't drink as a fucking adult. Do away with Sunday restrictions all-fucking-together already!

6/22/2017 5:20:39 PM

i don't think the house expanded the scope, they just grouped other alcohol items that were being debated into an omnibus bill, right? what new scope did they add?

6/22/2017 5:27:25 PM

^^Couldnt agree more. Really stupid that this has been a law for so long. Unfortunately the democrats controlled the state congress for 50+ years, and never changed the law. Took a republican congress.

^ Reread the quote above.

6/22/2017 10:05:01 PM

Just an update on SB155 - the Brunch Bill, it was approved in the House yesterday 73-40 and now moves for a concurrence vote in the Senate (no vote date yet) and then, if approved, to the governor. If all goes well we may finally be able to buy alcohol before noon on Sundays in NC for the first time since 1993 (except of course at Panthers Stadium where the legislature long ago carved out an exception for alcohol to be sold at 11am...).

6/28/2017 7:26:51 AM

Quote :

"Unfortunately the democrats controlled the state congress for 50+ years, and never changed the law. Took a republican congress. "

As I said, get rid of it, then I'll really give them credit. Till then, they're infringing on my adulthood and self-responsibility.

6/28/2017 4:26:50 PM

SB 155 - Brunch Bill - is on the Senate calendar tonight. Lots of bills though so it may not be voted on until late. Still has to be signed by the gov, but can't imagine that doesn't happen since this is a bipartisan bill. Already talked to my town board and they're prepared to vote on the ordinance at their next meeting after the Independence Day holiday!

[Edited on June 28, 2017 at 8:42 PM. Reason : ...]

6/28/2017 8:42:11 PM

http://www.wral.com/house-gop-seeks-to-impeach-secretary-of-state-/16790786/

just the most awful group of people

6/28/2017 10:15:22 PM

Brunch bill passed 37-9 last night, headed to the governor now. If the governor signs today there's still a chance your county/town board could call a special meeting - 48 hrs notice needed - to approve an ordinance allowing for 10am alcohol sales by Independence Day because what better way to celebrate America.

6/29/2017 6:07:42 AM

[Edited on June 29, 2017 at 6:25 AM. Reason : ...]

6/29/2017 6:25:01 AM

wrong thread

[Edited on July 15, 2017 at 1:12 PM. Reason : .]

7/15/2017 1:08:43 PM

Oh look, government trying to put a local newspaper out of business because politics.

http://www.wral.com/cooper-vetoes-newspaper-notice-bill-wade-fires-back-on-brown-nosing-/16825435/

7/17/2017 9:28:38 PM

http://www.campaignlegalcenter.org/sites/default/files/Memo%20re%20NC%202017%20Proposed%20House%20and%20Senate%20plans%20v3.pdf

Analysis of new GOP gerrymanders. It suggests (to great simplify the analysis) a +12% advantage to the GOP in state House and Senate races.

Considering the significant role in the democrat vote that black people play in NC, and their relative geographic density across the state, I really don't see how these will pass constitutional muster either. How can you redraw districts in a state like NC and come away with an even bigger gerrymander?

If the courts confirm that, I think it's time for them to lay the smack down. How many chances do you give them to re-draw when they obviously aren't interested in complying with the voting rights act.

8/23/2017 5:54:41 AM

Gerrymandering alone isn't illegal or unconstitutional

8/23/2017 6:58:59 AM