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Democracy has been kicked to the curb outside the legislative building. 
By Rep. John Rhodes

  The leadership, through their actions has arrogantly proclaimed, “Democracy is no longer welcome here”. The leadership in the House is turning your House of Representatives from a deliberative body into one of rule by “their” command. Most alarmingly, many members of the House, both Democrats and Republicans remain silent for fear of being denied a few extra square feet of office space or self aggrandizing titles. Imagine such silence and lack of courage and leadership at deciding moments in history. In 1775, imagine the outcome of early patriots making statements such as, “Well we really don’t want to go against the king, he may deny us our freedoms”.

  Why should North Carolinians be concerned? If the trends continues, the legislature in North Carolina will negate the need for 117 members of the House and 48 members of the Senate to represent and speak on behalf of the people of North Carolina. Additionally, members of the public who wish to be heard on important matters might just as well stay home and not make the long trek to Raleigh to speak on issues that are already predetermined by these self proclaimed power mongers. I’m sure this is not what the framers had in mind when they drafted our constitution to protect against such abuses of power.

  [There are 120 members in the House and 50 members of the Senate. Currently 2 members of the House, the Speaker and rules chairman both Democrats run the House in an un-democratic manner, the third Rep. Morgan a Republican simply enables and supports the liberals and works to suppress any conservative Republican agenda from moving forward. In the Senate, the President Pro-Tem and Majority Leader, both Democrats, rule in the same fashion over in that body.]

  Tangible Evidence of Abuses of Power

  Taxpayer subsidized Slush Funds* – The leadership has controlled nearly $30 million dollars in discretionary funds to spend at will to legislative allies. It has been reported that tens of thousands of dollars went to fund a job for a former legislator who helped a legislative leader keep retain the leadership post. The uses of the funds are now under investigation by the State Auditor and State’s Attorney General. Legislative leaders were asked to step down while a thorough investigation is completed. They arrogantly refused.

  Disregard for the Constitution and Process – Recent legislation that dealt in finance and appropriations whizzed through the House without regard for the Constitution or process. Legislation such as this is supposed to be read and voted on separate days. The leadership egregiously ignored the Constitution and forced the legislation through for fear of losing votes by waiting an extra day on the narrowly passed measure (61-59). Similar speed of passage on key legislation such as the budget (a $16 Billion increased tax and spending plan) passed through the House with little or no review of the 200+ page document. , passing less than 15 minutes, with little or no debate. It’s like a classroom where the instructor hands out the full version of War and Peace, proclaims there will be a test in 15 minutes, and the only correct answer is “yes”. Those who answer incorrectly with a “NO” vote will be awarded no *pork in the cafeteria. (*tainted taxpayer subsidized slush funds)

  Censorship of Citizens by the leadership’s decree – This is a common practice amongst legislative leaders. One recent incident made statewide news and further investigation and action on the matter looms on the horizon. Citizens who came to Raleigh to speak on legislation before a House Education committee were silenced ending in the Capitol Police and Sgt-At-Arms staff dragging citizens away from a podium while they were speaking. The legislation called for a referendum vote by the people of Mecklenburg County to decide whether or not to deconsolidate the embattled and struggling Charlotte – Mecklenburg School System into smaller more efficient districts within the county. A last minute decree by the leadership that no elected official would be allowed to speak on the matter, and that the bill sponsor would not be allowed to speak on behalf of the legislation, was sent down to the committee chairman. This practice has become commonplace in the legislature by not allowing legislators to speak on the House floor. This is clearly a violation of citizens’ first amendment rights. This is the same body in which members are pushing for “illegals” to receive in-state tuition at a huge cost to taxpayers. In this legislative body, the precedent is being set that elected officials are being denied rights afforded to legal citizens, while “illegals” are being accommodated for participating in criminal activity.

  So what’s being done about it? – Recently, H.B. 1545 was filed making it a Class 1 Misdemeanor and removal of office for any legislative leader who coerces, dictates, or otherwise forces a member of the General Assembly to vote a certain way in exchange for (pork) projects or other items while in the course of serving their constituents and fulfilling the duties of their office. Furthermore the legislation speaks to the growing trend by the leadership of abolishing first amendment rights (freedom of speech) concerning the members of the public as they interact with their General Assembly.

  So what can you do to help? – Don’t waste your dime calling individual members of the legislature, many are blindly following the leadership regardless of how egregiously they make a mockery of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and have been numbed to the abuses. Contact the legislative leadership, and remind them that this is the citizen’s legislature belonging to members of the public, not their own personal version of the board game “Monopoly”. Let them know you’re watching and ask them to support Rep. Rhodes’ H.B. 1545 – Legislature Freedom to Serve Act to reform the legislature from the abuses that currently exist. 919-733-4111.

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