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NC GOP uncomfortable with its image

Submitted by scharrison on Mon, 02/18/2013 - 3:33pm

Even though it's a perfect reflection of what they are:

"They can have an eight-second sound bite that makes (me) look like an evil, cruel cold-hearted person, and the explanation of why 'no, this was the better of two bad choices' takes awhile, so we do have our necks out," said Rep. John Blust, R-Guilford.

Excuse me, but your neck is out? What about the tens of thousands of North Carolinians who will either not get the medical treatment they need or will be crushed with medical debt, simply because lawyers like you would rather see them walk through your private-practice door looking for bankruptcy help, than have NC's Federal tax dollars come back to this state? Your necks might be out politically, but that's what happens when you pull evil, cruel-hearted tricks on the people.

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Comments

well said

Submitted by Huh on Mon, 02/18/2013 - 9:36pm.

well said

I'm a moderate Democrat.

I think you are making his point

Submitted by Pino on Tue, 02/19/2013 - 4:04pm.

What about the tens of thousands of North Carolinians who will either not get the medical treatment they need or will be crushed with medical debt, simply because lawyers like you would rather see them walk through your private-practice door looking for bankruptcy help, than have NC's Federal tax dollars come back to this state?

I think the larger point is that democrats can do exactly what you just did; make an emotional cry for services while remaining ignorant of the larger financial picture we're looking at. Namely:

But Republicans are skeptical the federal government would continue paying all or most of the cost of expanding Medicaid given the nation's debt problems. The same state Medicaid report that pointed to a net gain for North Carolina over seven years estimated higher state costs of $97 million in 2020 climbing to nearly $119 million in 2021, indicating further cost increases, expansion opponents say.

Blust is saying that he's "whistling while he works" when balancing these two paths forward, he acknowledges the difficulty. But given the real chance that the federal government isn't going to continue funding these programs AND the fact that even if they do we'll be faced more than $200 million in 2020 and 2021 alone....his choice is at least defensible. That is you may not have made the same one given the same facts, but that is a long way from willfully passing legislation that leads folks into lawyers offices.

This may be hard to follow,

Submitted by scharrison on Tue, 02/19/2013 - 5:17pm.

but one of the reasons I do that (make references to Legislators' private practices) is to keep all of them aware that somebody's watching. And I've done it to Dems, as well.

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle in the NCGA have developed, over the years, an inability to see ethical potholes, and they work from the assumption that short of trenchcoats and bags of money (with a dollar symbol stenciled on the side), they are free to sponsor bills which help them or their friends enhance their profit margins. Basically, when you're dealing with children, you have to constantly remind them to behave.

And believe me when I say, it's just as irritating for me as it is for them.

NC GOP's War on the Poor

Submitted by Todd on Wed, 02/20/2013 - 11:47am.

A War on the Poor (and Middle Class) is underway in Raleigh. That might not be the image Republicans want, but the facts speak for themselves.

- Cut to Unemployment Insurance - Done.

- Blocking expansion of Medicaid to working poor - in process.

- Elimination of EITC - in process.

- Elimination of inheritance tax, paid only by the top .2% of estates - in process.

- Elimination of income taxes for individuals and corporations - coming soon.

- Replacement of income taxes with higher sales taxes, including on food - coming soon.

- Approval for Duke Energy to raise electric rates by the new GOP-dominated Utilities Commission - coming soon.

The NC Democratic Party needs to be fighting this stuff every step of the way. Don't work with them, Democrats - they are gonna ignore your concerns anyway.

Come Election Day 2014, there should be no doubt in voters' minds that there's a huge difference between Democrats and Republicans running the NC General Assembly.

And to think they are just getting started. The NCGOP's War on Women and War on Schools have barely begun. The Boobie Ban is just the start.

Hate the topic but like your post

Submitted by persondem on Wed, 02/20/2013 - 11:26pm.

It's a very concise summary of the #@!&$ being perpetrated by the R's in Raleigh. Ok if I adapt it somewhat and turn it into a letter to the editor?

Environmental Defense Fund

http://signon.org/sign/an-end-to-gerrymandering

HB 84; the Medical Cannabis Act

Submitted by perry parks (not verified) on Mon, 02/25/2013 - 9:38am.

"I am saddened by the total ignorance of Rep Stam on this issue and his FINAL judgement that appears incompatible with human emotion, much less compassion.

Not only did he ignore the comments Ms. Lyles, incredibly, he seemed unmoved by the testimony of Dr. Peter Pandorf, DMD, as he pleaded with the committee to provide him an alternative to the myriad of narcotics, including Oxycontin, that he was taking daily since surgery 7 years ago. "I am dying a slow death of these narcotics with the full understanding of what they are doing to my body; even though they no longer provide the relief from the pain. As a Physician, I cannot afford the risk of arrest and the consequences to my family. Please, I urge you to refer this
bill to the Health Committee to study these recent discoveries".

This along with my plea to protect the thousands of disabled veterans in North Carolina from arrest and loss of medical care at VA Facilities. They are protected by VA Directive in those 18 states with approved programs. (See VA Directive 2010-035, followed by 2011-004)

In NC, they are told to leave the clinic until they can provide a clean sample (urine). I also presented the National Cancer Institute
Physician Desk Query (PDQ) statement that, in addition to symptom management, medical Cannabis may now be recommended for
it's possible direct anti-tumor capability."