These are the measures that the Republican leaders in North Carolina have taken that are hurting North Carolinians. They:

  1. Failed to provide adequate funding for public education. Instead, millions of dollars have been funneled to private schools (over the next decade, approximately $800 million will be sent to private schools). Teachers and the teaching profession have been devalued. Many teachers have left the state to teach elsewhere, and enrollment in teacher education programs has dropped (for details, see Limited Support for Education).
  2. Reduced funding to the state university system through the 2015-16 school year, forcing schools to increase tuition; many students have dropped out; others have taken on huge amounts of debt to finance their education (for details, see Reduced Funding for University of North Carolina System).
  3. Changed personal income tax rates, imposed sales taxes on items that were not previously taxed, and made other tax law changes that have resulted in a substantial tax cut for wealthy families and individuals, and a tax increase for many middle and low income families and individuals. Most middle income families with children, retirees, and families purchasing mobile homes pay more in taxes. This reverse Robin Hood approach can be referred to as the “McCrory Middle Income Tax Hike” (for details, see McCrory Middle Income Tax Hike).
  4. Decreased corporate income tax rates, claiming that the tax cuts would lead to job creation; the actual result has been minimal job creation in North Carolina, and an outflow of North Carolina tax dollars to business owners in other states. With excess cash, Krispy Kreme, Lowe’s, and BB&T have expanded operations in other states, and
    created jobs in other states (for details, see Tax Cuts for Large Corporations).
  5. Passed laws that make it more difficult to vote; a voter ID was imposed, the number of early voting days was decreased, same day registration was eliminated, and straight party voting was eliminated. These changes have a major impact on elderly voters and young voters (for details, see Voter Suppression Laws).
  6. Passed legislation that has makes it especially difficult for low income families to meet basic needs of everyday living; these laws have decreased the opportunity of individuals to move up the economic ladder, and the Republican leaders have eliminated an important deduction that was beneficial for small businesses, making them pay more in taxes (for details, see Republican Legislation Harms Poorest Citizens).
  7. Passed legislation that makes it difficult for many women to afford basic needs for daily living. The elimination of the earned Income Tax Credit and the refusal to extend Medicare benefits have had a major impact on women, many of whom are heads of households (for details, see Republican Legislation Treats Women Poorly).
  8. Talked incessantly about jobs being created as a result of tax decreases, but Republican policies have actually resulted in job losses in North Carolina (for details, see Republican Policies Resulted in Job Losses).
  9. Took actions that are harmful to state employees; employment has been cut and wages are stagnant (for details, see Republican Leaders Treated State Employees Unfairly).
  10. Passed legislation that is harmful to retirees; changes in the voting laws make it more difficult for retirees to vote, and the “McCrory Middle Income Tax Hike” is forcing most retirees to pay more in taxes (for details, see Retirees Not Faring Well Under Republican Leadership).
  11. Took actions based on outside extremists; much of the legislation passed by the North Carolina Republican leaders did not originate in North Carolina. It was formulated by an outside group known as the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which has drafted “model laws” that are introduced in states controlled by Republicans. Much of the recently passed legislation, which is hurting North Carolinians, was formulated by outside ALEC committees, then introduced by NC legislators who are ALEC members. For example, the Republican leaders passed ALEC supported fracking legislation which permits fracking on property even if the property owner does not give consent (for details, see Republicans Discuss Policy Issues During Secret Meetings).
  12. Passed legislation that has resulted in a huge drop in the number of white Democrats holding elective office, through skillful redistricting the Republican dominated General Assembly. Black voters have been packed into majority-minority districts for the sole purpose of removing them from swing districts so that white Republicans could easily defeat white Democrats. This tactic has been very effective in removing white Democrats from office. In 2010 six of the 13 congressmen from North Carolina were white Democrats; now there is only one. The Guilford County Board of commissioners included 5 white Democrats in 2010; now there is only one. There are 6 white democrats on the Wake county board of commissioners; legislation was passed that likely would have reduced that number to two, but the legislation was thrown out by the courts as unconstitutional racial gerrymandering.

    Similar legislation is being considered for other Boards of Commissioners, city councils, and school boards in North Carolina. Unless the Republican majority in the general assembly is defeated in November, this trend will continue, and white Democrats will find themselves as helpless bystanders when policy decisions are made. White, as well as black, Democratic office holders are needed to make education a top priority, to improve the economic welfare of middle income families, to implement a fair tax system, and to promote compassion for our less fortunate citizens (for details, see Republican redistricting results in drop in white Democratic office holders).

The legacy of the Republican leaders is an abandoned middle class. It doesn’t matter whether you are a registered Republican, Democrat, Unaffiliated, or Libertarian voter; it doesn’t matter how you voted in the past; it doesn’t matter how your brother or your neighbor or your supervisor voted; in the privacy of the voting booth you can vote to support the interests of the vast majority of North Carolinians. In 2016, vote to support our teachers; vote to support a fair voting process; vote to support the middle class.

VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR EACH OFFICE!! You must vote for each candidate separately, since straight party voting is no longer allowed.

And vote for Michael Morgan, a Democrat, for the North Carolina Supreme Court. Since the Supreme Court race is nonpartisan, the party of the candidates is not listed on the ballot.

With some exceptions, the Democratic candidate for each office is listed second on the 2016 ballot; the Republican candidate is listed first. Remember to vote for the Democratic candidate!! One exception is the Supreme Court contest; Michael Morgan, the Democrat, is listed first.