Picture this: Donald Trump is President. Thanks to his gross mismanagement and abject cruelty, his approval ratings are falling. The upcoming midterm elections are looking bleak for legislative Republicans. Rather than modify their unpopular stances and help everyday North Carolinians, Republicans in the NCGA decide to push a host of constitutional amendments – some distractions, some outright harmful.

Wait. Is it 2018 or 2026?

We wouldn’t blame you if you feel like we’ve been through all this before. But over the last two weeks, Republicans in the NCGA have introduced six constitutional amendments:

1. HB 1089 – A property tax measure that would threaten the essential services funded by local governments, from public schools to public safety.
2. SB 1080 – An income tax measure that amounts to another massive tax break for the wealthiest few.
3. SB 1081 – A “right to farm” amendment that does nothing to address the harms that tariffs and rising gas prices are causing to North Carolina’s agricultural sector.
4. SB 1082 – A duplicate of the 1947 North Carolina law that says people cannot be prevented from employment if they choose against joining a union.
5. HB 443 – A measure that would limit the governor’s ability to replace any Council of State members who vacate their positions to those proposed by the political party of the departing member.
6. HB 144 – Another political power grab to remove the governor’s power to appoint members to the State Board of Education.

As of today, both chambers have passed the property tax measure and the income tax measure, guaranteeing that they will be on the ballot in November. The Council of State vacancy amendment has passed the House and is awaiting Senate approval; vice versa for the anti-union amendment. The farm amendment and the State Board of Education amendment are awaiting hearings in committee. 

Let’s be crystal clear on what’s happening. 

Costs are rising on gas, groceries, housing, healthcare, electricity, and more. Democrats are trying to address rising costs with real solutions, introducing bills to tackle child care costs, restore SNAP cuts, raise the minimum wage, rein in utility companies, and more. 

Meanwhile, Republicans are playing political games, hoping buzz words around taxes, farming, and the “right to work” will draw out their voters in November who would otherwise stay home. 

It’s a cynical ploy. And it won’t work. 

After all, remember what happened in 2018? Voters rejected the two constitutional amendments that were nothing more than Republican power grabs. We broke Republican supermajorities in both chambers. And we saw the highest mid-term level turnout in 28 years. 

If Republicans are intent to take this fight to the voters, we’ll see them at the ballot box in November.