Eleanore Wood

Former North Carolina U.S. Senator Kay Hagan dies at 66.

By Eleanore Wood / October 28, 2019 / Comments Off on Former North Carolina U.S. Senator Kay Hagan dies at 66.

Today we deeply mourn the loss of Kay Hagan. She served in the NCGA for 10 years and in the US senate for 6. She was a key vote in the passing of the Affordable Care Act and always represented our state with courage and grace. From Politico: Kay Hagan, a former bank executive who…

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FDA must fast track insulin for the millions of Americans living with diabetes

By Eleanore Wood / October 24, 2019 / Comments Off on FDA must fast track insulin for the millions of Americans living with diabetes

Did You Know? Three Canadian researchers discovered insulin almost a century ago and sold the patent for $1 so the world could access this life-saving medicine for diabetics. Today just three big Pharma companies control the U.S. market for insulin. Result? The price of insulin has gone up 900% in the last 18 years Op…

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Recipients of tainted Lindberg money should give back donations

By Eleanore Wood / October 8, 2019 / Comments Off on Recipients of tainted Lindberg money should give back donations

Last week, former NCGOP chair Robin Hayes pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI as part of an alleged bribery scheme involving indicted businessman Greg Lindberg. As part of his plea deal, Hayes will cooperate with federal prosecutors investigating an alleged scheme to funnel $2 million in campaign donations to Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey and the NCGOP…

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Charlotte Observer: NC Republicans’ shameless theft of democracy

By Eleanore Wood / September 12, 2019 / Comments Off on Charlotte Observer: NC Republicans’ shameless theft of democracy

“This is a travesty of the process and you know it,”said Rep. Deb Butler, D-New Hanover. On 9/11, the anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on American soil, Republicans in the NC House of Representatives misled Democrats to sneak a vote to override Gov. Cooper’s veto of the state budget. Democrats in the NC House…

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How you can help end the GOP budget standoff

By Eleanore Wood / September 11, 2019 / Comments Off on How you can help end the GOP budget standoff

The Republican-created budget standoff is in its third month now as the GOP majority refuses to either hold an override vote on Gov. Roy Cooper’s budget veto, or negotiate with the governor for a budget that works for everyone.  THE PROBLEM RIGHT NOW: The state budget is more than two months late. North Carolina’s public…

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Trump stumps for his “vanity wall” while cutting $80 million from NC military installations to pay for it

By Eleanore Wood / September 9, 2019 / Comments Off on Trump stumps for his “vanity wall” while cutting $80 million from NC military installations to pay for it

Trump campaigns for Dan Bishop TONIGHT while slashing funds for NC military institutions, including an elementary school for military families at Fort Bragg. FAYETTEVILLE — Donald Trump is coming back in North Carolina this evening — not to assist the Hurricane Dorian recovery effort in the Outer Banks, but to campaign in Fayetteville for HB2…

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GOP budget standoff drags through its second month

By Eleanore Wood / August 20, 2019 / Comments Off on GOP budget standoff drags through its second month

The cost of GOP budget inaction is about $42,000 per day, or about a million dollars and counting. Legislative Republicans can either hold an override vote or return to the negotiating table, but instead, they’re doing neither while pointing fingers at the governor. Enough House Democrats have pledged to sustain Gov. Cooper’s budget veto that Republicans have…

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NC House Dems to GOP leaders: You don’t have the votes for budget override

By Eleanore Wood / August 13, 2019 / Comments Off on NC House Dems to GOP leaders: You don’t have the votes for budget override

Summer is almost over, and in a couple of weeks, kids will head back to school. But our state budget still hangs in limbo as Republicans continue to refuse to negotiate.  Last week, House Democrats published a pledge to sustain Gov. Cooper’s budget veto which was signed by 51 of 55 House Democrats — all…

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GOP budget standoff holding up state employee raises, school budgets

By Eleanore Wood / July 31, 2019 / Comments Off on GOP budget standoff holding up state employee raises, school budgets

Three weeks into the GOP budget standoff, July paychecks are going out for many state employees whose pay raises are being delayed by Republican leaders’ unwillingness to negotiate. However, those paychecks aren’t the only things left in limbo by the GOP budget standoff. With the 2019-20 school year approaching, school districts are having to make…

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GOP may try to ram their budget through the General Assembly this week

By Eleanore Wood / July 25, 2019 / Comments Off on GOP may try to ram their budget through the General Assembly this week

With GOP leadership telling their caucus to expect budget votes this week, Republican lawmakers are once again trying to ram through a budget which does not address the concerns of hard-working North Carolina families or our valued educators. Instead of expanding Medicaid and investing in our schools and our students, the politicians are trying to…

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