NC LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

July 7, 2011


NC Redistricting

The Redistricting Committees recently released congressional district maps, the second milestone in the redistricting process for North Carolina. Redistricting House and Senate committee members will take public comments today, July 7th from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. at nine locations across NC. Democrats are out in numbers at these meetings seeking to change the proposed maps.

Currently for the U.S. House of Representatives, NC has 13 districts held by 7 Democrats and 6 Republicans. In 2010 before Republican Renee Ellmers defeated Democrat Bob Etheridge in the 2nd district, the count was 8 Democrats and 5 Republicans. The proposed maps trend toward 10 Republican and 3 Democrat seats. The three overwhelmingly Democrat districts would be the 1st, the 4th, and the 12th, currently held by G. K. Butterfield (D- 1st), David E. Price (D-4th), and Mel Watt (D-12th). Democrats in jeopardy under the plan include Mike McIntyre (7th), Larry Kissell (8th), Heath Shuler (11th), and Brad Miller (13th).

An important fact considering the governor's recent unprecedented vetoes is that she cannot veto the Republican redistricting plan. However, the plan does have to be reviewed by the U.S. Justice Department for compliance with the Voting Rights Act.

The Republicans have faced a barrage of complaints on redistricting from Democrat and NAACP spokesmen, using terms that appear to have been prepared by a single source such as "racism," "segregation," and "packing" and "cracking" minorities. This observation is independent of the news media's reporting on redistricting, which is generally negative.

Senator Rucho, Chairman of the Senate Redistricting Committee said, "The previous map was Democratic gerrymandering," adding "this is fair and legal."

Please attend the meetings and make comments to support our Republicans on the Redistricting Committees and in the legislature.

Public Hearings scheduled for today, July 7, 2011 from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. are as follows:
(from ncga.state.nc.us)

NC Museum of History, First Floor Auditorium
5 East Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC 27601-1011 (Wake County)

Fayetteville Technical Community College, Cumberland Hall Room 308
2201 Hull Road, Fayetteville, NC 28303 (Cumberland County)

Guilford Technical Community College, Learning Resource Center (Library)
Jamestown Campus, Room 325
601 High Point Road, Jamestown, NC 27282 (Guilford County)

UNC-Charlotte, J. Murrey Atkins Library
Room 143, 9201 University City Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28223-0001 (Mecklenburg County)

UNC-Wilmington, Education Building
Room 266, 601 S. College Road
Wilmington NC 28403 (New Hanover County)

Western Carolina University, Cordelia Camp Building
Room 133-B, 69 East University Way
Cullowhee, NC 28273 (Jackson County)

Roanoke-Chowan Community College, Jernigan Building
Room 126, 109 Community College Road
Ahoskie, NC 27910 (Hertford County)

Appalachian State University, Anne Belk Hall
Interactive Video Services, Classroom 023
224 Joyce Lawrence Lane, Boone, NC 28608 (Watauga County)

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
Asheville Campus, Ferguson Building
Ferguson Auditorium, 340 Victoria Road
Asheville, NC 28801 (Buncombe County)

Sources: ncga.state.nc.us; Washington Examiner, "North Carolina redistricts," by Michael Barone, Jul 1, 2011; News-Record, "Lawmakers hear from public on Congress lines," AP, Jul 7, 2011; wral.com, "'Fair and Legal?'" Jul 1, 2011 and "New congressional districts lean R," Jul 1, 2011; and News & Observer, "GOP redistricting 'bonanza'? Four Democrats would find it harder to maintain their seats," by Jim Morrill and Rob Christensen, Jul 2, 2011.