April 12, 2019/Press
NCDP TAKEAWAY – TILLIS’ TOXIC HEALTH CARE – TILLIS AGAINST COASTAL NC – REPUBLICANS’ LATEST GERRYMANDER – NC GOP “SMOKE AND MIRRORS” – SPECIAL ELECTION UPDATE
TILLIS ADVOCATES FOR TOXIC HEALTH CARE POLICIES – AGAIN


PROTECT ACT MEANT TO PROTECT TILLIS – NOT NC
That’s because the new bill would not “disallow lifetime or annual limits, cap patient out-of-pocket costs, require coverage of essential benefits, prohibit gender rating, or provide subsidies to make premiums more affordable,” according to Kaiser Family Foundation.


TILLIS ON THE WRONG SIDE OF COASTAL NC


REPUBLICANS’ LATEST PARTISAN GERRYMANDER
- Decreases the number of Winston-Salem’s ward from eight to five and creates three at-large positions on the city council.
- Double-bunks the three African-American women serving on the council.
- Double-bunks councilman Dan Besse, who challenged bill co-sponsor Danny Lambeth in 2018, with a Republican councilman.

NC GOP’S “SMOKE AND MIRRORS” EDUCATION PLAN
Two NC Teacher of the Year winners criticized the proposal–including 2017 winner Lisa Godwin, who was misled into thinking state money would fund the initiative. Godwin told WRAL:

SPECIAL ELECTION UPDATE

WHAT EDITORIAL BOARDS ARE SAYING
On NCGOP Chairman Robin Hayes’ indictment…
Winston-Salem Journal
“We expect more from those we place in positions of leadership and it’s disappointing, to say the least, when we find their feet are made of clay. It’s a failure that resounds more fully for the state Republican Party in the wake of the recent ballot-harvesting charges against Republican operatives that have led to tossing out election results and calling for a new election in the state’s 9th Congressional District.”
On school supplies funding…
Charlotte Observer
“It’s part of a pattern of Republicans proposing new education initiatives or grand education improvements, such as teacher pay, without paying for it properly. If Superintendent Johnson and other Republicans want to improve school supply funding, they could talk to school districts about why they’re forced to make accounting maneuvers to maximize their textbook purchasing. They could talk to teachers about the best way to help them meet their classroom needs. Or, just maybe, they could simply give them more money for supplies.”
On NCGOP School voucher program…
WRAL
“Twisting the truth doesn’t make private school vouchers a more worthy government program. Allowing the program to become a slush fund where tens of millions of education tax dollars sit idle is irresponsible. If Phil Berger and his fellow legislative leaders truly cared about the state’s school children and accountability, they would praise and thank Marcus, Searcy and Nickel for their diligence and concern. They’d also apologize for their misdirected scorn and mockery.
On NC House Speaker Tim Moore’s comments about partisan gerrymandering…
WRAL
“Speaker Moore and his fellow Republicans unabashedly admit they want to make it difficult, if not impossible, to vote out as many Republicans as possible. Voters can’t “fire” anyone in rigged districts. An independent commission, drawing district lines without regard to previous elections or political affiliation, would make it EASIER for voters if they wanted to “fire” elected officials they didn’t feel are responsive to their concerns.”