And the takeover couldn't have happened without some Judas Iscariots to betray our freedoms:

Phillips declined to say how much money AFP, which isn’t required to disclose its contributions and spending, spent in the state. “It was significant,” Phillips said. “There will be more old conservative policy changes in North Carolina than in any other state this year,” said Dallas Woodhouse, AFP’s state director. “We have a lot of ground to make up. We have the right mix of state leaders and governor to pass some earth-shattering reform.”

Yeah, that's just what you need when you're trying to struggle your way out of a recession; "Earth-shattering". And just for those Republican lawmakers who happen to be reading this (I know some of them do), I want you to pay special attention to not-the-bus-driver's wording: "We have". That's possessive, meaning Dallas and his paymasters believe you are now a possession. And possessions do as they're told. You don't agree? Prove it.

You have the right to remain silent:

Except as prohibited by federal law, unless a parent or legal guardian or legal custodian of an unemancipated minor is present with the unemancipated minor and gives 24 consent, no health care provider duly licensed in the State of North Carolina, or agent thereof, 25 shall provide health care services for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of (i) sexually 26 transmitted diseases, including Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency 27 Syndrome, (ii) abuse of controlled substances or alcohol, (iii) mental illness, or (iv) pregnancy 28 unless the health care provider or agent thereof, or another health care provider or agent 29 thereof, first obtains the written consent of the minor and the notarized written consent of any 30 one of the following:

It's not enough to force teens to involve their parents in a process that should just be patient/doctor. Oh no. We've got to have a notary public become part of the "treatment team". I realize that many thumpers in the Republican Party hold to the old (17th Century) method of "shaming" people into compliance with arbitrary social morality codes. But when those codes become dangerous and costly, it's important to shame them right back:

EMERALD ISLE - In an impromptu press conference on this sunny beach, Deputy Assistant Governor Pat McCrory today discounted news of an alarming spike in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. With CO2 reaching concentrations not seen in millions of years, policy makers in many states are alarmed about potential impacts such as rising sea level.

"We're fortunate here in North Carolina," said McCrory. "Last year we took the prudent step of making it illegal for sea levels to rise. The same applies to CO2. We've also prohibited North Carolina planners from using data coming from other states or from the federal government. Have no fear. We are safe."

When a local marina operator told McCrory that his business would soon be underwater, McCrory mistakenly assumed the company was going bankrupt. "No sir," said Buddy Lee of Morehead City. "I'm talking about actually seeing my buildings and facilities taken over by the rising ocean."

"That cain't be happening," said McCrory. "Tell that damn ocean it is illegal to rise here in North Carolina. And if it doesn't listen, I'll send down the National Guard to arrest the son of a bitch."

Top story: McCrory's head of DHHS fabricates history to dodge responsibility for Medicaid meltdown. Look for "I misspoke" non-apology coming soon.

Lots more bad news below the fold.

I just wanted to congratulate and share about the great work a coalition of ECU students did in getting an anti-voter suppression resolution passed by the Greenville City Council last night. The resolution opposed SB 666, cuts to early voting, and barriers to voting in general. Here's a little bit of the work that led up to it.

On campus tabling & rally:

In keeping with the fine tradition of the McCrory administration, Aldona Wos looks citizens in the eye and lies through her teeth. Thank goodness North Carolina Health News was on the scene.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Aldona Wos told an audience in Reidsville today that the decision not to expand the state’s Medicaid program came from state Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin. Her comments came during a community forum held at Annie Penn Hospital during a question-and-answer period with the audience of 70 to 80 hospital personnel, community members and medical professionals.

To which the Department of Insurance had this to say:

Hey y'all,

I just wanted to drop by and update you on the goings-on of the Young Democrats of North Carolina.

Follow me below the fold ...

And all of the people it helps are rich.

The majority of taxpayers likely would see a tax increase after the plan is fully implemented, according to early long-term projections from legislative fiscal researchers who analyzed the potential legislation – not a tax break as Senate Republican leaders suggested when announcing the plan this week.

Stephen Colbert declared himself a North Carolina native this week during a segment on "The Colbert Report" in which he discussed his sister, Elizabeth Colbert Busch, losing a congressional election in his home state of South Carolina to former disgraced South Carolina governor Mark Sanford.

The angry Colbert said he felt betrayed by his home state and would turn his back on it. "From now on," he said. "And I never thought I'd say this, I am from North Carolina. No, I have to -- I have to! I'm a Tar Heel now! Whatever the f*#$ that means."

Colbert then went on to profess his love for the state bird, the cardinal (after consulting an Almanac to get the bird's name right). "That's a stupid bird," he said. "But it's mine now."

From the Fayetteville Observer
By Gary D. Robertson
The Associated Press

RALEIGH - Senate Republicans unveiled details about their long-awaited tax overhaul proposal Tuesday, saying that lower income tax rates and expanding the scope of the sales tax is fair to all, will boost the state's economy and cut taxes for most people. But critics say lower-income people will pay more overall.

The three-year plan would reduce individual and corporate income tax rates as well as cut the combined state and local sales tax that consumers in most counties pay from 6.75 percent to 6.5 percent. The plan would eliminate the estate tax.

But the overhaul would make North Carolina's sales tax base one of the broadest in the country by eliminating exemptions and expanding it to apply to most services
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