Congress

Mar 31st - 10:26 am

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RALEIGH — The state NAACP staged rallies in Wilmington, Raleigh and Charlotte in support of confirmation of Loretta Lynch as the next US attorney general.

“She has the temerity to stand up for voting rights in our state and I support her,” said Charlotte protester Margaret Peeples.

The groups demonstrated in front of Sen. Burr’s office in Wilmington as well as Sen. Tillis’ offices in Charlotte and Raleigh. Both senators have said they will not be voting in Lynch’s favor during her confirmation.

“Step up to the plate, do your duty and lead with a high moral conviction and sense of servitude to the people of North Carolina,” said Deborah Maxwell, New Hanover Co. NAACP.

A spokeswoman for Sen. Tillis released a statement saying in part, “Senator Tillis has immense personal and professional respect for Loretta Lynch. However, because Ms. Lynch has stated her clear support for the president’s unconstitutional executive amnesty plan and did not make a firm commitment to reverse the partisan politicization that presently exists at the Department of Justice, he will not be supporting her confirmation.”

Sen. Burr said he is also not going to confirm Lynch as attorney general.

“I gave her every opportunity to tell me exactly how she would be independent of what Eric Holder’s agenda was at the department, and she said it would be identical,” Sen. Burr said on Monday. “So she certainly didn’t express to me any independence.”

The confirmation vote for Lynch has not yet been scheduled.

- Amy Elliott

Jan 14th - 6:24 pm

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WASHINGTON — In Washington, Republicans are waging a battle against President Obama’s immigration plan.

House lawmakers passed a Department of Homeland Security funding bill that blocks the president’s immigration initiatives.

House Republicans, strengthened by a bigger majority, leveled a major attack against President Obama’s immigration plan on Wednesday.

The House voted to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security while blocking the president’s recent executive action on immigration.

DHS is the agency responsible for immigration enforcement. Its funding expires at the end of February.

GOP lawmakers inserted amendments in the nearly $40 billion spending bill that roll back the president’s order to shield about five million undocumented immigrants from deportation.

Republicans, including Congressman Richard Hudson, say the president’s executive action is illegal.

“I’m committed to doing whatever it takes to rein in the president illegal activity when it comes to rewriting immigration law, and these amendments will do just that,” said Rep. Richard Hudson, 8th District.

Another amendment reverses President Obama’s 2012 initiative aimed at protecting immigrants brought into the United States illegally as children, so-called “dreamers.”

Meanwhile, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi accused Republicans of putting homeland security funding at risk at a time of high alert. That’s following the recent deadly terrorists attacks in Paris.

“You think it would’ve heightened the urgency to pass a homeland security bill. But the Republicans still say no, still say no to passing a clean bill, unless, unless they can be a menace, do menace to immigration,” said Rep. Nancy Pelosi.

But Hudson says the legislation is legitimate.

“We have the largest border security force we’ve ever had in our history. We fully fund FEMA. This is a good appropriations bill that funds our priorities,” said Hudson.

The White House says President Obama would veto any legislation that undermines his immigration plan. But the president may not get the chance. The legislation seems unlikely to get enough votes in the Senate to make it to the president’s desk.

- Geoff Bennett

Jan 9th - 6:44 pm

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WASHINGTON—The White House said Friday’s court decision in Nebraska doesn’t change President Barack Obama’s intention to veto a bill authorizing the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

It passed the House Friday, and the Senate takes it up next week.

The pipeline is the final link in the system to transport oil from Canada’s oil sands down to refineries in the Gulf Coast. Oil sands are a dirty, gooey mix of sand, clay and oil.

On Friday Nebraska’s highest court tossed out a lawsuit challenging the route of the pipeline through the state. According to House Speaker John Boehner, President Barack Obama is now “out of excuses” for blocking the pipeline.

Obama has said he needed the ruling from Nebraska before deciding whether the pipeline from Canada is in the national interest. After the ruling, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell renewed his call for Obama to drop his threat to veto the pipeline measure.

North Carolina Republicans Richard Burr and Thom Tillis support the Senate version of the bill.

“We stand ready to become an energy superpower. One of the ways you do that is to increase exploration and drilling but also to provide transportation options to lower the cost along with just providing greater access ,” said Tillis.

But environmentalists say with greater access comes a huge pollution problem. Still, Republicans say the investment is worth it.

“When you have the opportunity to create about 40,000 jobs – some of them direct construct ion jobs and indirect jobs – you need to do it,” said Tillis.

The pipeline’s opponents point out those jobs would be TEMPORARY. After construction, the pipeline would employ about 50 people.

The political wrangling over the issues is about much more than just a pipeline. The new Republican-controlled Congress is using it to divide Democrats and put pressure on the President Obama to veto a bill the public largely supports.

“I think we have the American people honest with this. We have 68, 70 percent of the American people who think this is a good idea,” said Tillis.

- Geoff Bennett and Associated Press

Jan 7th - 11:34 am

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WASHINGTON—With the pomp and circumstance complete, the 114th Congress is now ready to get down to work.

There are many big issues the lawmakers say need to be addressed, from immigration to infrastructure. Another year, another round of talks on the affordable care act.

“I think there are some things that can get done quickly, that has bi-partisan support, that can help healthcare in this country,” said Rep. Renee Ellmers.

With Republicans in full control of Congress, many members of the majority party say there need to be steps taken to change make some repeals to the Affordable Care Act.

However, Democrats remain skeptical.

“But Republicans merely want to repeal the medical device tax without replacing it with something to get it paid for. And that would be a non-starter. that is intended to just gut the effect of the Affordable Care Act and not really to improve it,” said Rep. GK Butterfield.

Financial issues could also be making moves this year with some lawmakers saying an overhaul is needed to the nation’s tax code.

“Everyone, both sides of the aisle, realize the tax code has gotten too onerous. and is actually stifling economic growth, ingenuity, innovation. So I think we are ready for that kind of big tax reform and I think you’ll see it,” said Rep. George Holding.

One of the first bills expected to make it to the president’s desk is on the Keystone Pipeline. The president has said he expects to veto the bill if it come in its current form. but some lawmakers say they believe this piece of legislation is necessary.

“Anytime you are expanding any type of pipeline, you want to make sure that the environment is protected. I think they have done more to make exploration safer than they have ever done. So I would support that bill,” said Rep. Walter Jones.

That keystone bill could begin debate before weeks end, showing Congress’ desire to get bills moving out the gridlock they sat in for the last several years.

President Barack Obama took executive action on immigration prior to the end of the last Congress, but members say a long term immigration solution is expected to be discussed by lawmakers in Washington soon.

- Loretta Boniti

Jan 7th - 11:27 am

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WASHINGTON — As members of Congress were sworn into office Tuesday, many had loved ones at their sides.

When members of Congress are sworn in, there is the first official swearing in on the floor, then a ceremonial private ceremony. It is there that you see time and again the beaming faces holding the Bibles, proud of their loved ones.

For first time Congressman Mark Walker, his father was close by his side. A fellow reverend, and clearly proud father, Jerry Walker Sr. had some advice for his son.

“Well as a dad, just be honest, be truthful, and that when he makes a decision that he knows from his heart that he made the right decision,” said Walker.

Third term Congresswoman Renee Ellmers was joined by her husband, Dr. Brent Ellmers. He looked back at when his wife was first asked to run for the position.

“Well I need to go home and talk it over with my son, and my husband, and go to church and pray about it… and that’s what we did. Of course her first question to me was, ‘If I do this, who’s going to feed the dog?’” said Dr. Brent Ellmers, Rep. Renee Ellmers’ husband.

But for some members of Congress, the luster of this first day of Congress has worn off a bit.

David Price is now the senior member of North Carolina’s delegation, beginning his 14th term in Congress.

For his wife Lisa, she is cheering him on from home in Chapel Hill.

“It’s like going to the White House Christmas party. The first time it was absolutely wonderful…and it’s always enjoyable to go there. And we’ve done this a number of times now, so it isn’t quite as exciting. You get used to everything,” said Lisa Price.

As far as having her husband so far away for so long, she says it is a lifestyle they have become accustomed to.

“We’re just so used to it. To have David not in office, to be retired, that will take some getting used to,” said Price.

- Loretta Boniti

Jan 6th - 4:39 pm

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WASHINGTON — North Carolina has a new U.S. Senator.

Republican Thom Tillis was sworn into office on Tuesday in the nation’s capital, joining a new Republican majority in the Senate.

Tillis, 54, joins a freshman class of 13 new U.S. Senators, 12 of them are Republicans.

Tillis says he is excited to get to work in this new Republican controlled Congress. Tillis took his oath of office on Tuesday afternoon with his wife Susan by his side.

After his hard fought and record-breaking expensive campaign to oust Democrat Kay Hagan from the seat, he says he is excited to get to work in Washington.

“One of the overarching top priorities is to be part of a leadership that is going to get the Senate functioning again. Leader McConnell is committed to regular order. What that means to the average person is that we are going to start working again,” said Tillis.

Tillis says he is ready to tackle some of the so-called big issues Congress will be facing: immigration, energy and taxes. But he says he also has a sharp focus on the issues that will affect his constituency.

“From a North Carolina perspective, regulatory reform is still going to be important to me….I serve on the agriculture committee. Armed services is very important to me. I am looking forward to having the first committee and moving forward to armed services. But also veteran affairs is a very important local issue. Being on the committee that oversees the changes that need to be done to support our veterans is something I’m excited about,” said Sen. Tillis.

Meredith College political science Professor David McLennan says he expects that Tillis will quickly become a rising star in Washington, not only because of his leadership from his tenure as North Carolina Speaker of the House, but also because of his stance as a moderate Republican.

“And so I think will be Mitch McConnell’s new go-to guy. In terms of being able to get things done, in terms of being able to think about issues that are conservative issues….So I fully expect Thom Tillis to be perceived as one of the incoming first year, as one of the stars of the class,” said McLennan.

For Tillis, he says he has a steep learning curve to get into the way business is done in Washington but says he is learning as quickly as possible with few surprises along the way.

“I’m surprised I got here. I found the building twice today,” said Sen. Tillis.

Tillis joins many of his colleagues who are expressing optimism heading into this 114th Congress saying they are hopeful it they will be able to ease some of the gridlock they have been facing for many years now.

- Loretta Boniti

Jan 6th - 12:57 pm

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After five terms, Rep. Patrick McHenry, (R) 10th District, was forced to move offices, but this time for good reason: He moved into leadership — fourth in line in the House Republican leadership.

Chief Deputy Majority Whip — it’s not a title your average joe might know—but it’s a big deal. He’s in charge of making sure there are enough votes to pass republican legislation.

“It’s a position of trust, and you’re there to fulfill the goals and objections of the House Republicans, the conservatives here in Washington, and it’s a great honor.” he said.

He’s a rising leader at just 39 years old. Although ambition at a young age is nothing new for McHenry—he ran for the state legislature while still in college, and he was just 29 when first elected to Congress.

Michael Steel, a North Carolina native and spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner says McHenry has a knack for the position.

“He can talk to every member of the House Republican Conference,” Steel said. “That’s a tremendously important skill, and he’s just a very smart guy.”

“His intelligence is not just in the political areas, but in other areas, too,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx, (R) 5th District. “He’s a very smart young man. He’s very pleasant to be around, and so he gets along well with people.”

And McHenry believes his work as Chief Deputy Whip puts North Carolina in a prime position.

“You’re in the room when some decision are being made. That certainly gives your home state, and in my situation, Western North Carolina in particular, an additional voice,” McHenry said.

If he didn’t have enough going on, he has a 4 ½-month-old baby—quite a time for Patrick McHenry.

- Tim Boyum

Jan 6th - 11:38 am

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Mark Walker is the son of a preacher man—and a preacher man himself—the last seven years at this Greensboro church.

The 45-year-old from district six sees parallels between preaching and politics.

“It’s about the people, whether you’re in church ministry, dealing with people, child struggling with this, marital or financial,” Walker, the newly-elected 6^th District representative, said. “It’s kind of a parallel in the sense we have people needing to be contacted with disabilities, working through different issues or veterans or bad legislation, making sure you connect with those people that’s where there’s similarities.”

During the campaign, his opponent called him a Republican extremist—in fact GQ Magazine named him one of its 20 craziest politicians because of comments he made about bombing Mexico.

Walker says he’s misunderstood.

“We’re not going to try to be a trouble rouser or try to be somebody who just raises shaking for shaking things up,” he said. “I will say this: There are sometimes where you do have to stand, maybe even against leadership, if you feel like the best decision best represents the best interests of the district, even if against leadership but you don’t have to do it in a cowboy way.”

But DC is a world of its own—a world that challenges Walker to the core.

“I would be remiss if I didn’t say that it certainly challenged my faith at times, because in the political world, you’re expected to punch back and make decisions,” he said. “Even in this last campaign, with our opponent, we just wanted to make sure that we kept the integrity side of it and people say how do you do that in politics. I don’t know all the answers to that but I’m responsible for the decisions we make. “

From the Triad to Johnston County and District 7, 42-year-old David Rouzer brings the most experience to Washington—eight years as a staffer for former Senators Jesse Helms and Elizabeth Dole.

“I know a lot of the people. I know a lot of the leadership staff in both chambers. Just knowing where the bathrooms are helps significantly,” Rouzer said. “[I’ve] seen a lot of mistakes made in my career.  Knowing mistakes commonly made—how to avoid them can help significantly.”

That experience apparently paid off—as a freshman, the Republican was given the gavel to chair an agriculture subcommittee.

“I’ve never seen that in all my years being around Washington and haven’t found anyone else who has seen it either,” he said.

Rouzer seems focused on one strong belief — elections have consequences.

“I think the message of the fall was the American people said stop – we don’t like the direction the president is taking us,” he said. “People want us to stop the liberal agenda and see an alternative plan we can provide to get the economy moving forward and get back to the basics.”

Despite Rouzer’s experience—Democrat Alma Adams could argue she’s the veteran of the group.  She was sworn in as District 12’s representative in November, after two decades in the state legislature.

Adams replaces Mel Watt who took over the federal housing finance agency.  She may have the most challenging district—stretching from Greensboro to Charlotte along Interstate 85.

“It’s what we call, in academia, I’m an advanced freshman,” she says. “It’s very exciting, I’m learning a lot, and I don’t miss being in the North Carolina General Assembly.”

Adams—known for her hats—hopes to be known for much more after her time in Washington.

- Tim Boyum

Jan 6th - 11:24 am

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RALEIGH — It was just weeks ago- that North Carolina’s newest member of Congress was sworn in as the record breaking 100th woman in the 113th Congress.

When lawmakers take the oath of office on Tuesday– there will be a new record, 104 women serving in the Capitol.

“I think people still consider it alarmingly small but I think for the women its a small step,” says Dr. San Roberts with Davidson College.

For Alma Adams- who helped cracked the 100 mark- she says she believes it is important that more female voices are heard.

“Women have found ways of to work together not only with their female colleagues, but with their male colleagues. You know when they were looking at shutting the government down it was the women who came together from both sides of the aisle to really help rectify that situation,” says Adams.

Adams is joined in the house by two other female members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation- Virginia Foxx and Renee Ellmers.

For Foxx, who is beginning her sixth term in the US House, she says it is important to have a diversity of voices in the Capitol.

“Women bring their perspective, men bring their perspective farmers bring a perspective, educators bring a perspective you need different points of view to get good legislation,” Foxx says.

Renee Ellmers says the strength of the women’s voice is becoming more and more important, not only in Congress, but also in determining who serves there.

“I believe we women in this country will be determining the next president, we are gong to be determining the elections into the future and therefore we need to have a stronger voice in Congress,” Ellmers says.

The breakdown is 20 females in the Senate, 84 in the House.

76 of the women in Congress are Democrats and 28 are Republicans.

But even though a majority of the women will be in the minority party come Tuesday, Roberts say the biggest question is whether or not the growing number of women can help change the tone of Congress which has become increasingly negative.

“They can’t exacerbate it, whether or not they can help it, I don’t know because the polarization issue is so entrenched,” Roberts says.

North Carolina, of course is also home to one of the two women who lost their seat in Congress.

Sen. Kay Hagan did not win re-election.

- Loretta Boniti

Dec 12th - 11:00 am

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WASHINGTON — A $1.1 trillion federal spending plan is on its way to the Senate.

The House passed a bill Thursday night that would keep the government operating until September.

Some Republicans wanted the bill to include a measure to block President Barack Obama’s executive actions on immigration, and Democrats wanted to remove a measure that would roll back regulations established during the 2008 economic crisis.

The Senate passed a 48-hour extension in existing funding to give it time to take up the bill.