Our state reps are disrespecting us.
Reps. Jennifer Balkcom and Jake Johnson, along with Senator Tim Moffitt, are part of the current Republican supermajority in Raleigh. They vote in lockstep with Republican leadership and agendas. Recently re-elected to new terms, their actions make it clear they prioritize party power over the people they represent.
A Sham of a Relief Package
These representatives voted to overturn Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of the Hurricane Helene relief package, SB 382. Gov. Cooper called the bill “a sham,” stating that “it does not send money to Western North Carolina but merely shuffles money from one fund to another in Raleigh.”
This bill fails to provide meaningful aid to those impacted by Hurricane Helene. Instead, it focuses on stripping power from the Governor, Attorney General, and state school superintendent—positions that voters across all political parties elected to represent them. This blatant power grab ignores the will of the people and disrespects the needs of North Carolinians.
A Disrespectful Power Grab
The process behind the bill further highlights the disregard for transparency and democratic principles. Introduced through a conference report, the bill was rushed through both chambers in just 48 hours, leaving no room for proper debate or analysis.
The $252 million allocated for Hurricane Helene relief comes from the state’s “rainy day” fund—far below the estimated $58 billion needed for recovery. Moreover, the bill lacks a clear plan or timeline for using these funds to help those who lost their homes, jobs, and businesses.
Empty Posturing
While Republicans used heart-wrenching stories of devastation to push for the veto override, their actions show a disregard for Western North Carolina’s needs. Towns have vanished, economies are devastated, and yet this bill prioritizes consolidating power over addressing these urgent issues.
As columnist Melissa Price Kromm aptly put it:
“Cloaked in the language of disaster recovery, but designed to make major changes to our democracy, this bill is a glaring example of a legislative majority more interested in consolidating power than in serving the people of North Carolina.”
We Will Not Forget
Western North Carolina deserves leaders who prioritize their constituents’ well-being over political maneuvering. As Vicki Meath, executive director of Asheville’s Just Economics, stated:
“That bill does not deliver the needed aid to my community, but rather, it subverts our democracy as a power grab and ignores the will of the people. That is a slap in the face to western North Carolina. We see what you are doing and we will not forget.”
Indeed, we will not forget. This is still a democracy—one that demands accountability. Reps. Balkcom, Johnson, and Senator Moffitt must be held responsible for their actions, which have failed their constituents and undermined our institutions.
Carolann
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