Editorial: Legislative leaders arrogantly impose ideological will

A CBC Editorial: Thursday, Dec.15, 2016; Editorial# 8096
The following is the opinion of Capitol Broadcasting Company

If there was any doubt that the court-ordered elections for a new General Assembly can’t come soon enough, the Republican leadership laid them to rest on Wednesday.

After a series of non-denial, denials, deceptive responses to direct questions and back room, secret deals, the legislature’s GOP leadership revealed their scheme to remain in session. They intend to impose a series of politically-motivated acts aimed at forcing unneeded and unwanted policies along with restrictions on the authority of incoming Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.

Even now, they remain tight-lipped about the details, with the other rank-and-file members of the Republican caucus cowering and silent about the agenda they will spring on North Carolinians today.

This unconstitutionally-composed, election-rigging legislature is bound and determined to impose its ideological will on the state regardless of what most citizens want or need.

In the process, they will ruin what little dignity out-going Republican Gov. Pat McCrory may have gained in the last few days from his advocacy for our citizens still struggling to recover from the hurricane and wildfire that ravaged parts of the state.

The bill that McCrory will receive amid the next day or two of embarrassing partisan behavior will be emblematic of the last four years and take the spotlight off his hurricane and wildfire recovery efforts.

Self-selected, self-interested, unrestrained, arrogant legislators, will continue to impose their will. Only fairly drawn representative districts, along with strong competitive candidates in each district, will bring an end to this reign.

That day, we were vividly reminded of on Wednesday, cannot come soon enough.