Democracy

President Biden signs historic $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill

By Alanna Joyner / March 15, 2021 / Comments Off on President Biden signs historic $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill

President Biden signed a sweeping $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package into law on Thursday, delivering a massive amount of much-needed federal aid for working families, essential workers and individuals who have been impacted by the financial devastation the pandemic has caused.  “This legislation is about giving the backbone of this nation — the essential workers,…

Read More

Burr, Tillis vote against Biden’s massive COVID-19 relief package as it passes Senate

By Alanna Joyner / March 8, 2021 / Comments Off on Burr, Tillis vote against Biden’s massive COVID-19 relief package as it passes Senate

Senate Democrats passed their version of the near $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act on Saturday, but not before making some major changes from the version of the bill passed by the House last week. The bill includes $1,400 stimulus checks for many Americans, extended federal unemployment benefits, billions for K-12 schools, billions for state…

Read More

Former U.S. attorney general calls North Carolina “ground zero” for partisan and racial gerrymandering

By Alanna Joyner / February 23, 2021 / Comments Off on Former U.S. attorney general calls North Carolina “ground zero” for partisan and racial gerrymandering

Last week, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder slated North Carolina as being the “ground zero for partisan and racial gerrymandering”. From The News & Observer: Expect more redistricting litigation in North Carolina backed by a national Democratic group that Eric Holder leads unless state Republicans accept anti-gerrymandering reforms this year, the former U.S. attorney…

Read More

The News & Observer: On the impeachment vote, one NC senator represented us well

By Alanna Joyner / February 15, 2021 / Comments Off on The News & Observer: On the impeachment vote, one NC senator represented us well

On Saturday, the Senate found Trump not guilty of inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection after a majority of Republicans voted against convicting the former president. Democrats’ needed 17 Republicans to join them in order to reach the two-thirds threshold needed to convict.  Seven senators, including North Carolina Senator Richard Burr, stood with Democrats in upholding…

Read More

Trump’s second impeachment trial starts tomorrow

By Alanna Joyner / February 8, 2021 / Comments Off on Trump’s second impeachment trial starts tomorrow

Trump’s second Senate impeachment trial will start tomorrow — just over a month after the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol, in which the House has charged him with inciting. The House will need the support of 17 Republicans to convict Trump.  From CNBC: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., announced Monday afternoon that…

Read More

In trial vote, Sens. Burr and Tillis put party before country

By Alanna Joyner / February 1, 2021 / Comments Off on In trial vote, Sens. Burr and Tillis put party before country

North Carolina’s two Republican U.S. senators voted last Tuesday against the Senate holding a trial on the impeachment of Trump for “incitement of insurrection,”. According to FiveThirtyEight, Burr and Tillis’ votes should come at no surprise, as both Senators have repeatedly shown loyalty to Trump — voting in accordance to Trump’s position nine out of…

Read More

Progressive Pulse: NC’s response to the COVID-19 crises: Hindered by the “The Big Lie”

By Alanna Joyner / January 27, 2021 / Comments Off on Progressive Pulse: NC’s response to the COVID-19 crises: Hindered by the “The Big Lie”

In opening remarks for the new legislative session, N.C. Speaker Tim Moore said, “And above all, we are committed to a system of government that represents justice for all North Carolinians”. What Moore failed to mention was how for decades, the N.C. General Assembly has failed to expand access to health care, housing support, increased…

Read More

House sent Trump impeachment to Senate, GOP opposes trial

By Alanna Joyner / January 26, 2021 / Comments Off on House sent Trump impeachment to Senate, GOP opposes trial

On Monday, the House delivered to the Senate an article of impeachment against Trump on the charge that the former president incited the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The Senate trial will begin on Feb. 9 with Democrats needing the support of 17 Republicans to convict him. This measure marks Trump as being…

Read More

The New York Times: Democrats, Here’s How to Lose in 2022. And Deserve It.

By Alanna Joyner / January 25, 2021 / Comments Off on The New York Times: Democrats, Here’s How to Lose in 2022. And Deserve It.

The swearing in of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States signified that not only the will of the people was heard, but that democracy prevailed.  Through our victory, Democrats now have a platform to undo all of Trump’s failures, protect democracy and fulfill their promises to voters who have been disenfranchised…

Read More

Progressive Pulse: NC General Assembly can afford to go all-in to address COVID-19 harm

By Alanna Joyner / January 21, 2021 / Comments Off on Progressive Pulse: NC General Assembly can afford to go all-in to address COVID-19 harm

Last Wednesday, the North Carolina General Assembly officially began its two-year session, with COVID-19 relief spending, a two-year state budget, school spending and redistricting among the top agenda items this year.  Prior to the NCGA’s adjournment, the Republican-led legislature failed to address long standing unmet needs for struggling North Carolinians. According to the state’s latest…

Read More