nc-02

Update: Still no word from McIntyre or Etheridge. Please call them and see if we can get them to take a position on the Clean Water Protection Act (HR 2169.) Thanks!

The Clean Water Protection Act (HR 2169) would reverse the Bush Administration’s 2002 decision that the toxic “waste” created by mountaintop removal could be defined as “fill material,” and recklessly dumped into our water ways. This practice has already destroyed over 1200 miles of American headwater streams, and eliminated access to safe, clean potable water for many communities. The CWPA (HR 2169) currently has 107 co-sponsors, and a lot of momentum. But we need more to get out of committee and onto the floor.

We have 5 of 7 Democrats from NC onboard, and we need to know if Bob Etheridge and Mike McIntyre are “wit’ us” or “ginst us” on HR 2169. Please ask.

If you have a moment, please see if your Congressman is a co-sponsor, and take a moment to call Etheridge (202-225-2731) and McIntyre (202-225-2731), politely but forcefully asking that they co-sponsor the Clean Water Protection Act (HR 2169), and take a stand against mountaintop removal.

A quick report on our NC Dems and mountaintop removal below…

www.wral.com/news/10094766/detail.html

SMITHFIELD, N.C. -- A Republican congressional candidate who has advocated elimination of the federal income tax owes the federal government more than $220,000 in unpaid taxes, according to liens filed in Johnston County.

For those of you who have not caught of glimpse of the Independent reporter Bob Geary's blog Citizen yet, he has had a gem up today about Rep. Etheridge's (D-2) desire to avoid any question relating to the war in Iraq:

The reason Etheridge wanted to get out of there, and did get out a couple of minutes later, was that all the questions were about Iraq, and the torture-rendition flights out of Johnston County, and he didn’t want to talk about either subject. “You can’t do everything,” he said to a woman who pressed him on his refusal to co-sponsor a particular House bill. “I haven’t looked at that one.”

The Cumberland County Democratic Party has launched a new website. This is good news for the state and the Democratic party as we try to increase participation and general excitement with the upcoming 2006 elections!

I hope that the residents of Cumberland County will take advantage of this resource and help strengthen the local party there.

It's also important to note that candidate Larry Kissell's district consists of a large portion of that county. Mobilizing those voters will be key to a good election year!

I realize that any press is good press, so therefore, I should just completely ignore those who are running against our incumbents. But, I was passing through Barry Welsh's 50 state page and came across Dan Mansell, Republican candidate for the NC-02. I thought it would be fun to highlight his policies and where they differ from Progressive policies.

Fayetteville Online has a piece up describing a recent visit with two members of our delegation in D.C.: Robin Hayes and Bob Etheridge. What it reveals about the two men is telling, despite the author's noticeable slant to the right.

North Carolina Democrats have stepped up to the plate in our house races. All of the Republicans are going to have to stand by their records. I was going to make a chart of my own, but Swing State Project already had one with the presidential vote in the district on the side:

NC-01 (57/43 Kerry): Butterfield (D) unopposed
NC-02 (54/46 Bush): Etheridge (D) v. Dan Mansell (R)
NC-03 (68/32 Bush): Jones (R) v. Craig Weber (D)
NC-04 (56/44 Kerry): Price (D), Kent Kanoy (D), or Oscar Lewis (D) v. Steve Acuff (R)