Instead of a State Budget, Senate Leader May Propose More Gerrymandering
The NC General Assembly is now three months late in adopting a state budget for the fiscal year which began July 1. Attempts to negotiate a compromise between competing versions of a budget put forward by the state House and Senate have disappeared into tightly controlled committees without debate.
Naturally, at this time of economic peril for the state’s economy, schools, health care system, and more, the attention of NC’s most powerful legislative leader has turned to… drawing a new, even more badly gerrymandered map of Congressional districts.
Rumors of Trump Endorsement
Assertions began to circulate last week that NC Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger was prepared to propose redrawing NC’s Congressional district map for a fifth time this decade to help Republicans retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives in next year’s elections. Rumors further claimed that Berger was doing so at the behest of Donald Trump, in return for Trump’s endorsement in a tough primary fight for Berger in his home district of Rockingham County. In a social media post, Berger acknowledged the possibility of another Congressional map this year, but denied that he had spoken with Trump about it.
The only competitive Congressional district in North Carolina currently is the 1st District seat now held by Democratic Representative Don Davis, who could potentially become the target of a redraw making his district harder for a Democrat to win. Democratic leaders blasted the possibility.
Leaders Speaking Out
“From Texas to Missouri and now North Carolina, Republicans are waging a war on American voting rights because they know the truth – their policies are unpopular, their candidates are unlikable, and they can’t win a majority in Congress without stacking the deck in their favor,” said U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC2). “We will fight these corrupt redistricting plans in every single state. We will fight for our democracy and for American voters who are tired of corrupt leaders silencing their voices.”
NC Democratic Party chair Anderson Clayton added, “Berger is once again doing what he’s always done: changing the rules, sabotaging the will of the people, and holding critical priorities like Medicaid hostage in a desperate attempt to cling to power.”
Berger faces a strong challenge for his State Senate seat from Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page, who is blasting Berger for an unpopular proposal to bring a casino to a rural part of Rockingham, as well as the failure to adopt a state budget on a timely basis.
“The Berger regime has done more damage to North Carolina’s clean air, water, land, and public health since 2011 than any other legislature in history,” said NCLCV executive director Carrie Clark. “At the same time, it has adopted one measure after another to restrict voting rights and rig election processes to favor Republican candidates. Redrawing the Congressional map again now for the purpose of defeating one of only two Black members of Congress from North Carolina would invite a court challenge on the basis of illegal discrimination on the basis of race.”
