C2C’s NEWSLETTER:
on THE ISSUES
Faceless bureaucrats? Think Again.
Republicans on the campaign trail are quick to decry “job-killing regulations” imposed by a bunch of “unelected bureaucrats.” When talking about the down-side of regulation, they speak in terms of “costs to the economy,” but really all they ever talk about is the cost to the businesses that have to meet those regulations. Republicans’ anti-regulatory framing seriously distorts the truth, both about the origins of regulation and their costs! There is a much bigger picture here.
Are you better off today than you were four years ago?
On March 6, 2024, when it became clear that President Biden would face Donald Trump in the 2024 election, Rep.Elise Stefanik boldly asked the headlined question once posed by Ronald Reagan. And while nearly two months have since passed, the issue is still an important one as we approach a Trump v. Biden rematch and many Americans still buy the idea that Republicans are better for the economy than Democrats.
CANVASSING: THE FRIENDLY FACE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Canvassing on a rainy afternoon in March, I met Macky, the self-proclaimed mayor of his neighborhood in Hickory. From the doorstep of his house on the corner, he told us about rallying his neighbors to go vote. In Burlington, I knocked doors with Stephanie Enoch, a Green Level Council Member. Our list included her former colleague, two cousins, and her son’s friend. She cheerfully implored each one to come to the next Democratic Party meeting. In Rockingham, I was “reverse canvassed” for the first time – called over by a pair of young men in the driveway, curious to know whose campaign we were with. Not only was one of the men related to the candidate for County Commissioner, but he was also a former student of my canvassing partner.
North Carolina: A purple state with a red General Assembly
Republicans have used their power during the past year to impose a radical right agenda, legislating to support business interests, to affirm right-wing cultural interests, and to consolidate and perpetuate their own power. Democrats, in contrast, wrote legislation to address the threat of gun violence, environmental problems, housing shortages in our cities, and education needs. However, because the majority party controls what bills make it to the floor for a vote, none of these bills ever had a chance of being enacted or even voted on. The evidence from legislation is clear: Republicans are unconcerned with and actively opposed to protecting the most vulnerable or improving the lives of ordinary people.
Why do other countries choose to pay high(er) taxes?
In 2023, Denmark ranked as the second happiest country in the world behind Finland, according to measurements published in CNN and Forbes India. But why are they so happy? Denmark’s official website lists the benefits the government offers its citizens, benefits that may contribute to Danish happiness: subsidized child care; universal healthcare, including general practitioners, specialty care, and hospital services; free university tuition, subsidized public transportation; psychological care for young adults; and pensions and government-funded caretakers for the elderly. These comprehensive benefits constitute what is known as the “universal welfare model” that provides for all tax-paying citizens.
The racial disparities in North Carolina that must be addressed
When you sit down at your kitchen table, what do you talk about?
For many of us, after the kids go to bed and we share a moment of quiet, we talk about how our family is doing. Can we afford to take our kids on that summer vacation or fix that dent on the car? Can I take that course to advance my career or is there not enough wiggle room in our family budget? With rent continuing to increase, can we piece together enough money for a down payment on our first home?
Style isn’t everything … sometimes content matters
Throughout Joe Biden's term, Republicans have hammered away on inflation, blaming it on the President and Democrats in Congress. Before the 2022 midterms, for example, Senate Republican Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) accused Biden of “turning a blind eye and deaf ear to what the American people are experiencing.” He and his GOP friends focused on what they called "sky-high prices" for essentials like gas and groceries -- expenses that every family in America had to cope with once the pandemic hit, creating shipping and supply-chain backups.
how democrats break the NCGA supermajority in 2024
As the 2024 election looms on the horizon, the North Carolina Democratic Party stands at a critical juncture. Our goal to break free from the Republican supermajority is a tangible reality within our grasp. We know it can be done. Just look at what Democrats in 2018 did to break the supermajority in both legislative chambers. Our optimism is fueled by the unwavering dedication of all Democrats across our state and by the fact that population growth and demographic change are on our side.
IMMIGRATION
In early February, Republican NC House Speaker Tim Moore, who is running to represent Congressional District NC 14, and his Republican House colleagues, sent a letter to Gov. Cooper demanding he take immediate action to send 125 NC National Guardsmen to support Texas Gov. Abbot’s potentially unconstitutional and cruel actions to stop potential immigrants from crossing into the US.
The big power grab
On October 25, 2023, the North Carolina General Assembly adjourned its 2023 long session, a session in which House and Senate Democrats, along with Governor Roy Cooper, witnessed one of the biggest power grabs in recent state history. The party in control, the Republicans, had succeeded in passing legislative acts and a state budget with provisions that arguably defy the checks-and-balance system that have been the bedrock of democracy and American government.
Good news about the Crime rate!
If you listen to Fox News or Donald Trump, you might not know it, but the US crime rate declined in 2022, followed by what may be a precipitous drop in 2023 as we move away from the pandemic and social protests after George Floyd’s murder.
We won’t have final 2023 data until the FBI annual report is available next year; However, their 2023 3rd Quarter report indicates the murder rate dropped an historic 12.7% nationwide, with property crimes down over 6.3%. This would be the largest property crime decline since 1961. A spike in auto thefts caused primarily by a viral video challenge on TikTok appears to have kept the property crime projection from falling even further.
Biden and Trump: IS Age that important?
In an interview on “Morning Joe,” Hillary Clinton was asked what she thought about questions frequently posed about President Biden’s age. Her response:
“The questions are legitimate, but the conclusions people draw are off base. I am supporting President Biden and Vice President Harris because of what they’ve gotten done. I’m kind of old fashioned that way. I like to see people tackle big problems, bring people together and try to forge solutions. I don’t know about anybody else, but I’m kind of happy that we’re fixing our bridges and our roads and the rest of our infrastructure, and I’m thrilled that we are going to compete with China on advanced manufacturing, and that we’re going to make the transition to clean energy as quickly as we possibly can, plus bring down drug prices. So when people say to me, “Well, he’s old.” Yeah that’s right, but look at what he’s gotten done, and then if that’s not enough for you, look at the alternative—a wrecking crew!”
We can build a better world together
So many aspects of life in the US were radically affected by the COVID pandemic. But while much of the danger and disruption has passed, we are left with the global sense that so much is out of control.
We look around and see destruction from wars raging around the world, devastation from extreme weather brought about by global warming, and waves of immigration produced by these crises. And here, at home, we’re faced with a dysfunctional Republican party which seems to have forgotten that it's the responsibility of government to make our lives easier and better… and that they are elected to represent us.
What THE NC Republican Legislature has done to North Carolina
The North Carolina Legislature is controlled by Republicans, and it has been under Republican control for over 10 years. In the State House the current composition is 72 Republicans and 48 Democrats. In the State Senate the composition is 30 Republicans and 20 Democrats. The NC Legislature has a veto-proof majority in both chambers and thus can override any veto by the Governor. Last year, voters elected enough Democrats to avoid a veto-proof majority, but when Tricia Cotham switched parties from Democratic to Republican she gave Republicans their veto-proof majority. Republicans have overridden the Governor’s veto 19 times since they gained that control.
Student Debt Update
Student loan borrowers have been making payments since October 2023.
The pause on student loan payments ended “60 days after June 30,” or around Sept. 1, 2023, per the agreement between House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and President Joe Biden to raise the debt ceiling, with payments coming due in October. With this pause ending, interest on these student loans is once again beginning to accrue. Interest has been one of the key drivers of surging student loan balances due to capitalization, the piling on of accrued interest that can swell the balance owed.
WHAT DEMOCRATS HAVE DONE FOR US: A REPORT CARD (PART II)
In Part II of this report card, we’ll examine how, with the support of Dems in Congress, the Biden-Harris administration:
made quality health care accessible to more of us
improved safety in our communities and
removed barriers for citizens of all ages to get ahead.
latino voters forward and up
In 2020, County-to County (C2C) launched the Latino Engagement Team (LET) to reach out to North Carolina’s fastest-growing ethnic group. Since then, LET has worked extensively with partner counties and candidates through canvassing, phone banking, post carding, and tabling events. The low Latino turnout in the 2022 midterms shows we have our work cut out for us in the coming year. Here’s why this work is vital for Democratic success in 2024 and how C2C can make a difference in motivating Latino voters to support Democrats.
What Can Be Done About the Lack of Affordable Housing?
The lack of affordable housing options in North Carolina has been a problem for many years. In years past, however, it was primarily a problem for low-income families. No longer. Since the pandemic, it has been increasingly difficult for ‘average’ families to afford a place to live. This is true for those seeking rental housing and ownership opportunities.
Republicans Allow Housing DiscriminatION
In a poll conducted in May 2021, 59% of North Carolinians, across major groups, agreed that the lack of affordable housing is a major problem in their community. Housing prices are so high, generally, that the people we need to support our daily lives, police officers, firefighters, teachers, home health providers, cleaners, retail employees, for example, find it difficult to impossible to live in the communities they serve.
Republicans scheme to further erode public education in North Carolina
Nicholas Kristof recently wrote an opinion piece in the NYT describing the progress Mississippi has made improving its public school standings. Through an all-out effort to get every child to read by the end of third grade, an effort informed by extensive reliance on research and metrics, Mississippi has shown that it is possible to raise standards even in a state ranked dead last in the country in child poverty and hunger. However, in the NAEP (National Assessments of Educational Progress) exams, in fact, Mississippi fourth graders in poverty are now tied for best performers in the nation in NAEP reading tests, and they rank second in math. Mississippi has moved from near the bottom to the middle for most of the exams. Mississippi is usually last in any school rankings leading other states to exclaim “Thank God for Mississippi!”