The Redistricting Committee is meeting at NCGA, Sen Rucho is Chair.
(consider all paraphrased, not direct quote)
Sen Trudy Wade will speak for her bill, Senate Bill 36.
Her bill would re-district Greensboro city, and is non-partisan. Each district would have a smaller population, and, she said, would encourage more people to run for office and pay less to do so.
Among other things, the bill adds districts. Also changes the duties, so that the mayor only votes in case of a tie. If passed would apply to the 2015 elections.

It’s nice to see the sun shining after this week’s snow, but no matter how bright the sun and Carolina Blue the sky, today North Carolina entered a new Dark Age.

When I think back on my educational experiences I never thought I'd live to see a day when Science was ridiculed as Magic, Learning denigrated as Foolhardy, and the Ravings of the Willfully Ignorant elevated to the level of Religion. Nor did I ever expect to live in a time where everyone associated with a world class university was made to feel the phrase Freedom of Speech had to be replaced with Do Not Anger The Powers That Be.

Thanks to NC Policy Watch and Lindsay Wagner for attending today's Education Appropriations Committee meeting and for her interview with Sen. Jerry Tillman (R-Randolph).

“They [private schools] are not regulated and we don’t know what they teach there, do we? Do you know?” said Tillman at the conclusion of Tuesday’s joint education appropriations meeting. A proponent of “school choice,” Tillman said he prefers the charter school model over private school vouchers.

Allowing the rich to pay less taxes does not result in job growth. Business do not hire new workers unless they absolutely have to do so, and what creates that need is a demand for their services or products. The kind of demand that comes from a vibrant middle class with money in its pockets to spend. NCGA needs to re-address its 'tax reform' and come up with better ideas.

Political bloggers got a pat on the back today from an elected official. (I'm not going to share their name.)

Advocacy no longer works the way it once did, where a group would ignore the elected officials already committed to their cause and those already adamantly against that cause, and focus on trying to persuade those officials who were on the fence. That doesn't work any more.
Our political parties have a 'brand,' a platform they are known to support. And they are hardened in their stance on issues. Interest groups can't reach them. Who can? The people who put them into office.

The best way to put pressure on elected official is to let their constituents know what is going on. Bloggers who attend meetings and write on what they see and hear can make a big impact on individual voters. It is the voters who will reach their representative and influence the vote.

Continue blogging. Attend those meetings and keep writing. It does make an impact.