progress north carolina

Although Pat McCrory campaigned as a "political outsider" who would root out special interests and reject "business as usual," the truth is this: before he even took office, McCrory had broken his campaign promises and surrounded himself with veterans of the good ole boy network.

Progress North Carolina has set up a special website to catalogue the proof of this. Please share our new accountability website graphics with others so people understand: we need to watch this guy closely. See the website here. Or you can review its contents after the jump.

Within days of winning the election, Pat McCrory broke his campaign promise to keep special interests out of state government. He has surrounded himself with veterans of the good ole boy network and plunged headlong into conflicts of interest unbecoming of our state’s highest office.

Since so many of our lawmakers in Raleigh have made it plain they aren't listening to the people of North Carolina, it's time to get their attention another way. Please join the AFL-CIO, Progress NC and other allies at the General Assembly on May 16 -- the opening day of this year's legislative session -- for a rally that lawmakers can't ignore. Bring your own pot and utensil of choice and be prepared to make some noise. Details after the jump...

In perhaps the most audacious attempt yet to turn a pile of happy horseshit into gold, Americans For Prosperity and the Civitas Institute are sponsoring a "Real Solutions" tour next week in an attempt to convince people that their deep budget cuts to education are *good* for North Carolina. Help us nip this insanity in the bud: please take a look at the tour stops in the article below and if you would like to get more involved in setting the record straight when they come near you, drop me a line: katymunger @ progressnc.org. We need to talk ... thank you!

(more after the jump)

N.C. Real Solutions Coming To a Town Near You

According to new polls conducted by Public Policy Polling for Progress North Carolina, two Cumberland County legislative seats could be very competitive this fall. (These polls are part of a series of surveys designed to answer the question: “Can progressives retake the NC General Assembly?”)

In Senate District 19, incumbent Republican Sen. Wesley Meredith trails potential Democratic challenger and NC House Rep. Diane Parfitt, 37%-40%. Download the complete results for Senate District 19.

In House District 45, a potential matchup between former Republican county commissioner Diane Wheatley and Democratic school board member Kim Fisher is also close. Wheatley leads Fisher, 38%-36%. Download the complete results for House District 45.

Those of you with the stomach for it know that if you follow right-wing rhetoric by politicians long enough, you can pick up on the latest inaccurate claims du jour. But for a long time, many of us dismissed their talk as transparent hyperbole unworthy of attention or feared that repeating their nonsense would make it seem more legitimate. As a result, last year, our state spent millions in taxpayer money for legislators to debate imaginary problems like voter fraud and we've seen state laws crippled by rumors, myths and religious beliefs.

Am hoping Steve or James can embed the following video for me in my post, but for those of you who want an informative video with your daily coffee... Progress NC has managed to crack the code of the DC double-speak. Our staff experts in "dialects of the 1%" have provided sub-titles to explain why the House GOP wants to raise payroll taxes on working families come Jan. 1st. What on Earth is Renee Ellmers talking about? Conferee? Doc Fix? We're not even sure she knows:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2N6_rAZ3xU

The people have spoken! The infamous "Gang of Five" has won Progress NC's not-so-coveted 2011 Jones Street Heisman Trophy for penalty-worthy conduct on the political playing field. Must have been their famous Flying Wedge maneuver that did the trick. View details and voting results here: http://www.progressnc.org/2011/12/and-the-winner-is.html

Thanks to all of you who weighed in!

I'll be working the Pink Slip Truth Tour tonight in Charlotte (see below) and would love to meet any of you attending the Tillis Town Hall. Could also use an extra hand to pass out brochures! Let me know if you'll be around.

Progress North Carolina is pleased to announce a new inductee to its Hall of Shame... capturing the coveted #4 spot: Wake GOP Chair Susan Bryant. See why at http://bit.ly/tyCZzz and stay tuned for more in our Hall of Shame countdown this week.

Progress North Carolina is pleased to announce a new inductee to its Hall of Shame... Debuting this week at #5: Rep. Mike Hager (R-Cleveland, Rutherford. See why at http://bit.ly/ugGZIB and stay tuned for more in our Hall of Shame countdown this week.