http://ncdp.org/ en Copyright 2012 2012-02-06T22:38:05+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/pat-mccrory-refuses-to-come-clean-video/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/pat-mccrory-refuses-to-come-clean-video/ Pat McCrory has spent nearly all his time on politics and campaigning since 2008, while making a substantial personal income from those who seek to influence the policies in the general assembly.... 2012-02-06T21:38:05+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/congressman-kissells-weekly-column-for-2-3-2012/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/congressman-kissells-weekly-column-for-2-3-2012/ As we work to rein in big government and reckless spending, one thing remains most important to me—we absolutely must always put families first. I’ll never play politics or hold hostage the livelihood of our greatest generation, those who have made our nation great. I have said, since long before I was in Congress, that home health and hospice care are the best alternatives whenever possible.e} 2012-02-03T19:21:33+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/23-straight-months-of-private-sector-job-growth-under-president-obamas-lead/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/23-straight-months-of-private-sector-job-growth-under-president-obamas-lead/ When the President took office, we were losing more than 700,000 jobs a month. The economy was spiraling out of control, and the economic security of millions of middle-class Americans was vanishing. Now private sector has added more than 3.1 million jobs, the American auto industry and the more than 1.4 million jobs it supports were saved, and manufacturing is creating jobs for the first time since the 1990s... 2012-02-03T18:35:19+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/mitt-mccrory-for-governor/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/mitt-mccrory-for-governor/ Mitt McCrory for Governor! What do Mitt Romney and Pat McCrory have in common? Quite a lot.... 2012-02-02T19:18:59+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/governor-perdues-announcement-regarding-2012/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/governor-perdues-announcement-regarding-2012/ Like the rest of the nation, North Carolina has been facing difficult economic times... 2012-01-26T22:33:39+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/good-news-about-democrats-january-24-2012/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/good-news-about-democrats-january-24-2012/ Surry County Democratic Party Chair Erica Smith reports that President Obama talked about socks made by Nester Hosiery in Surry County in his January 21st weekly address entitled "Helping American Businesses Succeed." The President said "I brought a few things with me for this week's video. A padlock. A pair of boots. A candle. And a pair of socks" He continued by saying "These products are united by three proud words: MADE IN AMERICA." Erica says Nester Hosiery was founded in Mount Airy in 1993 and employs about 225 people. 2012-01-24T19:05:29+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/your-guide-to-president-obamas-state-of-the-union-address/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/your-guide-to-president-obamas-state-of-the-union-address/ Tomorrow, President Obama will deliver his third State of the Union address. Kicking off tomorrow at 9 p.m. ET. Democrats across the country are hosting watch parties to view the speech and exchange ideas about how to support the agenda that the President will lay out. Join the action and find a State of the Union party near you. 2012-01-24T00:23:19+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/good-news-about-democrats-january-20-2012/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/good-news-about-democrats-january-20-2012/ Democrats all across the state turned out in large numbers for King holiday events during the past weekend. One of the larger celebrations was the NC State Employees Association event at First Baptist Church in Raleigh on January 13th. Governor Beverly Perdue gave a speech which State Party First Vice Chair Gwen Wilkins described as "gracious, heartwarming, uplifting, and inspiring." The Governor presented to Senator Dan Blue an award for bringing the King Holiday to fruition when he was in the NC House. The Keynote Speaker was Ambassador James Joseph, Professor at Duke University. Democratic stars who attended included DNC Member Everett Ward, Secretary Elaine Marshall, Attorney General Roy Cooper, Congressman Brad Miller and Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin. 2012-01-21T18:06:06+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/governor-perdues-message-to-you/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/governor-perdues-message-to-you/ Governor Bev Perdue is calling on the General Assembly to temporarily restore a fraction of a penny to the state sales tax to reverse deep and unnecessary cuts to education. See her video message to the people of North Carolina... 2012-01-20T20:40:45+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/president-obama-hits-back-against/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/president-obama-hits-back-against/ Recently, the shady, Koch Brothers funded group 'Americans for Prosperity' (AFP) launched a nearly $800,000 ad buy in North Carolina aimed ad distorting President Obama's record on jobs. Predictably, the was chocked full of half-truths and misinformation--standard operating procedure for AFP and it's allies. 2012-01-20T19:40:51+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/congressman-larry-kissells-weekly-column-january-20th-2012/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/congressman-larry-kissells-weekly-column-january-20th-2012/ Energy costs have risen sharply in recent years, fueled by everything from rogue foreign governments to too many people in the United States government lining their own pockets. Few people recognize that we’re an oil producing nation, and this past year we’ve set new records in oil and gas production—but I believe more must be done. For every step we take in the right direction, it seems that failed policies and political games take us three steps bacde} 2012-01-20T15:23:52+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/mitt-romney-still-hunting-for-a-straight-answer/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/mitt-romney-still-hunting-for-a-straight-answer/ Following today’s New York Times editorial calling on Romney to release his tax returns – a practice that every Republican and Democratic nominee for president has adhered to for a generation but which Romney has repeatedly refused to do so. What is he hidinge} 2012-01-17T20:02:27+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/martin-luther-king-day-a-day-on-not-a-day-off/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/martin-luther-king-day-a-day-on-not-a-day-off/ Today, we celebrate the life of an individual who fought to make America great. Dr. Martin Luther King led a grassroots movement across our nation to ensure that our quality of life is not determined by the color of our skin, but the content of our character. This year also marks the 25th Anniversary that State Senator Dan Blue, as a member of the State House, sponsored a bill that made Martin Luther King Day a state holiday. 2012-01-16T16:33:58+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/we-are-tied-together-martin-luther-king-day/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/we-are-tied-together-martin-luther-king-day/ Senator Eric Mansfield wrote an op-ed on the importance of the Martin Luther King Holiday. -- January 16, 2012 will mark the 26th Anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday. Now, 43 years after his death, our country continues to struggle with his legacy and the perfecting of our Union. In his lifetime, Dr. King struggled to bring an end to the Vietnam war, diminish the amount of poverty in our country, but he will always be best known for his attempts to inspire America to live up to what was penned in the Constitution, that all men are created equal. 2012-01-16T16:22:01+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/young-democrats-endorse-governor-perdue/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/young-democrats-endorse-governor-perdue/ The Young Democrats of North Carolina pass a unanimous resolution supporting Governor Perdue for re-election. 2012-01-12T19:21:07+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/good-news-about-democrats-january-11-2012/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/good-news-about-democrats-january-11-2012/ The former President of the NC Teen Dems, Hailey Best of Goldsboro, is in the Miss America competition in Las Vegas this week. She was crowned Miss North Carolina after winning the Miss Durham contest. Hailey is a student at Meredith College. She sang the National Anthem at the 2008 JJ Dinner and she was a legislative intern for State Rep. Tricia Cotham of Mecklenburg County. 2012-01-11T16:04:02+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/information-is-power/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/information-is-power/ Sen. Floyd McKissick told the truth when he pointed out that Republicans in the legislature have unfairly targeted Lynn Holmes, an African American woman that Gov. Bev Perdue appointed to head the Division of Employment Security. 2012-01-09T15:18:14+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/across-the-desk-from-mike-episode-4/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/across-the-desk-from-mike-episode-4/ Topic: Gridlock in Washington 2012-01-06T20:36:36+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/congressman-larry-kissells-weekly-column-january-6th-2012/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/congressman-larry-kissells-weekly-column-january-6th-2012/ As the holidays end and the new year begins, it is no longer cards and well wishes in our mailboxes, it is mail that many of us dread. Whether it’s credit card bills from holiday shopping, or the stream of property tax reminders and 2011 tax documents we’re all sure to receive throughout the month, it’s a stressful time for so many of our families as they continue the struggle to make ends meet and secure a brighter futurede} 2012-01-06T17:47:38+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/good-news-about-democrats-january-6-2012/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/good-news-about-democrats-january-6-2012/ A large group attended the Christmas Open House at the new Franklin County Party Headquarters at 108 East Nash Street in Louisburg on December 12th. Franklin Democrats have had a headquarters for 10 years and they celebrated the move to their new headquarters with plenty of food, joyous music, and good fellowship. How does Franklin County raise money? Nine years ago when current County Party Chair Armenta Eaton was Treasurer of the Democratic Women, she envisioned a golf tournament. The Democratic Women have made it a success every year since. This year under the leadership of current DW President Evelyn Blackwell, they raised over $7,500 which will be used to pay the headquarters rent and assist with other Party expenses. 2012-01-06T15:36:16+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/congressman-kissells-weekly-column-for-12-26-2011/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/congressman-kissells-weekly-column-for-12-26-2011/ As we continue on a path toward economic recovery, we must make sure that every step we take is in the right direction—promoting our American businesses and jobs. I was troubled this week to see that our Treasury Department declined to label China as a currency manipulator, though history and evidence prove otherwise...} 2011-12-29T19:28:34+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/good-news-about-democrats-christmas-2011-edition/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/good-news-about-democrats-christmas-2011-edition/ Over 300 Democrats from across the state filled two floors of The Grand Ballroom on top of the Capital Club in downtown Raleigh for the "Holidazzle Gala" on December 15th. Finance Director Ellen Stankiewicz and the Headquarters team raised the highest amount of donations in the history of State Party Holiday events. Governor Perdue spoke to the crowd and several people actually danced to the beat of a band called "Peter and the Lambs." 2011-12-25T18:29:09+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/the-mitt-that-stole-christmas/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/the-mitt-that-stole-christmas/ Under President Obama’s economic plan a person making $50,000 a year would get a tax cut of $1,550 in 2012...under Mitt Romney’s economic plan a typical middle class family making between $40,000-$50,000 would get an average of $54.e} 2011-12-19T15:15:52+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/new-video-highlighting-the-presidents-leadership-on-ending-iraq-war-as-troo/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/new-video-highlighting-the-presidents-leadership-on-ending-iraq-war-as-troo/ Raleigh, NC – This week, President Obama addressed America's service members and their families in a speech at Fort Bragg and welcomed home our troops as he formally marked the end of the war in Iraq. In addition to releasing a new video highlighting the President's record of steadfast leadership in ending the Iraq War, North Carolina Democratic Party Chair David Parker released the following statement..} 2011-12-19T14:55:03+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/congressman-kissells-weekly-column-for-12-16-2011/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/congressman-kissells-weekly-column-for-12-16-2011/ In the midst of last week’s threatened government shutdown, folks in Washington seemed willing to ignore the most important issue facing our nation: We are in an economic crisis that has put millions of Americans out of work. The failed policies of the past have kept unemployment in our area at levels higher than the national average. This has been true for years, long before the recession started..} 2011-12-16T16:46:12+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/across-the-desk-from-mike-for-the-week-of-12-15-2011-video/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/across-the-desk-from-mike-for-the-week-of-12-15-2011-video/ This week's question comes from Walter of Southport, NC. Topic: Jobs and NAFTA. "How are you creating jobs & fighting unfair trade policy?" 2011-12-15T14:00:58+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/good-news-about-democrats-december-14-2011-edition/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/good-news-about-democrats-december-14-2011-edition/ Johnston Democratic Women have generously committed to provide food backpacks for Selma Middle School students who need food supplements on weekends and during holiday breaks for the entire 2011-2012 school year. Pat Branch is heading this project. Katie Blaylock, Gale Anderson, Gail Chandler and Diana Belden regularly sort and bag items for each backpack. State DW President Sarah Anderson picks up empty backpacks at school and returns the full backpacks to the school. At their December 10th meeting the Johnston Democratic Men provided a large amount of food items that will insure that each needy student will be provided enough food to sustain them during the extended Christmas holiday. Matthew Wood provided enough cereal, cereal bars and noodles for all the backpacks for an entire month. 2011-12-14T22:18:26+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/renee-goes-to-dc-unemployment-edition/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/renee-goes-to-dc-unemployment-edition/ Today, Congresswoman Renee Ellmers showed, yet again, just how sickeningly out of touch she is with her constituents here in North Carolina... 2011-12-13T21:20:35+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/mitt-romney-money-to-burn-video/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/mitt-romney-money-to-burn-video/ During the Republican presidential debate in Iowa last weekend, Mitt Romney offered Rick Perry a $10,000 bet – shortly after he once again dismissed a payroll tax cut saving middle-class families an average of $1,500 as a “temporary little Band-Aid.” Do you have $10,000 lying aroude} 2011-12-12T18:35:24+00:00 http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/congressman-larry-kissells-weekly-column-december-9th-2011/ http://ncdp.org/blog/entry/congressman-larry-kissells-weekly-column-december-9th-2011/ For people in our part of the world, dirt roads and sprawling farms are things with which we are familiar and comfortable. The rich rural history of North Carolina has instilled in us an appreciation of the earth, and the blessing of all of the work done upon it. Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency considered revamping their fully functioning air regulations, and would apply the same urban standards meant to tackle factory, automobile and pollutant emissions to rural America. This would be an unfair and costly burden on our region, and something had to be done to prevent this happening... 2011-12-09T18:50:44+00:00