REP. G. K. BUTTERFIELD
ADAMS, BUTTERFIELD BLAST
SENATE GOP VOTE ON
TRUMP IMPEACHMENT
By Cash Michaels
Even though a North Carolina Republican U.S. senator surprising voted otherwise, Democratic congresspeople Alma Adams (D-NC-12) and G. K. Butterfield (D-NC-1) blasted Republicans in the U.S. Senate for their majority vote last Saturday to acquit former Pres. Donald J. Trump for his part in the Jan. 6th U.S. Capitol siege that saw five people die, and injured 140 police officers.
The U.S. House impeached Trump with one act of inciting an insurrection, but the then Republican-led Senate would not take up the matter until after Trump had left office Jan. 20th.
Last Saturday, with two-thirds of the Senate needed to convict, only seven Republican senators in the 50-50 split chamber - including outgoing NC Senator Richard Burr - joined Senate Democrats in convicting the Republican former president 57-43, for allegedly inciting the thousands who gathered at his Save America rally just prior to them violently attacking the Capitol in an effort to stop certification of presidential electoral votes officially electing Democrat Joe Biden as president.
Senate Republicans ceased on the fact that because Trump is now out of office, he was not constitutionally liable for his alleged criminal actions, though he may be criminally liable, which 114 constitutional scholars, plus a majority vote by the Senate earlier in the week, said was not true.
Had Trump been convicted by two-thirds of the Senate Saturday, he would have been ineligible run for federal elective office again.
Congresswoman Alma Adams “gravely” disappointed that he wasn’t.
“I was there on that tragic day,” she said in a statement afterwards. “Trump supporters in Trump hat with Trump Flags stormed the Capitol and said Pres. Trump sent them. The Capitol was attacked, the electoral vote certification was interrupted, the Senate chamber was breached, and people died as a result. The facts of the case could not be clearer; however, we learned today that Donald Trump has a stronger hold Senate Republicans than the clarity of facts or the love of our Constitution and Country.”
After applauding the ten House and seven Senate Republicans who ultimately voted to impeach and convict, Rep. Adams lauded the nine House impeachment managers for the widely heralded case against Trump they put on at trial.
Adams’ colleague, Rep. Butterfield, also expressed dismay.
“Forty-three Republican senators choose to defend a man and their political futures over their solemn oath to defend the Constitution and protect our Democracy. I commend the seven Republican senators, including Senator Richard Burr, for their votes of conscience,” said Butterfield in a statement.
Irving Joyner, law professor at NCCU School of Law in Durham, warned that the Senate acquittal of Trump will give “…permission to embolden right-wing extremists and racist groups to wage political and physical war against the lawful functioning of the democratic process.”
“As a result,” Joyner continued, “African-Americans nd people of color need to better organize [their] political forces and voting apparatus in order to defeat these repressive forces at the polls and in the streets during the coming months and years.”
“The evidence presented in this impeachment proceeding…..,” Prof. Joyner concluded,”… graphically established that “trumpism” and it’s followers represent a continuing clear and present danger to the survival of this country.”
Monday evening, the NC Republican Party censured Sen. Richard Burr for his vote to convict Trump.
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REV. BARBER
BARBER CONCERNED ABOUT BIDEN’S
COMMITMENT TO $15 PER HOUR
MINIMUM WAGE HIKE
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
Last month, right before and shortly after his inauguration, President Joe Biden made clear that he strongly supported increasing the federal minimum wage from the current $7.25/hr to $15.00/hr, as many in the progressive movement, like Rev. Dr. William Barber, co-convener of the Poor People’s Campaign had been urging him to do during the presidential campaign.
“There are 62 million people in this country, who make less than a living wage. This the right thing to do,’ Rev. Barber said then. “If It is radical (as Republicans charge that it is), it is radical love.”
Biden was initially hoping that his $15.00/hr campaign pledge would be passed along with the rest of his enormous $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package Congress is expected to take up shortly by March. But not surprisingly, there is now pushback from moderate Senate Democrats, forcing Biden to remove the $15.00/hr proposal from the almost $2 trillion relief package, and possibly float as a standalone bill where the minimum wage increase is phased in over several years, instead of imposed all ate once.
Two weeks ago, Biden told CBS News that he won’t be able to get the 60 votes needed in the U.S. Senate to pass the measure.
Progressives like Rev. Barber, who once lauded Biden for his concern about poor people’s issues, are now sounding the alarm, fearing that after coming so close, their dream of a $15/hr minimum wage will fall short of the finish line.
Calling the fight for the $15/hr minimum living wage “…as important as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 an the Voting Rights Act of 1965,” Rev. Barber led a demonstration Monday at the West Virginia office of moderate Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, who has flatly rejected supporting the $15/hr minimum wage.
“We cannot get this close and then fall back,” Barber said in the lead to Monday’s demonstration. “We say to President Biden, to Democrats, and to Republicans: don’t turn your back on the $15 an hour minimum wage.”
Rev. Barber continued, reminding all that “55% of poor , low-wealth people voted for the current administration and its promise to raise the minimum wage. That’s the mandate. The mandate is in the people who voted, not in the back slapping of Senators and Congresspeople. It’s the people who voted.”
“We have to act like we have one shot on this. Tomorrow is not promised. It’s time to push with every non-violent tool.”
“Poor and low-income people were the first to return to work, the first to be infected, and the first to die in the pandemic, and they must not be last in line for relief. This administration and Congress must respect us, protect us and pay us.”
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NOVANT HEALTH PRESS RELEASE
Michael Jordan gifts $10 million for additional Novant Health medical clinics
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, Novant Health and Michael Jordan announced a $10 million gift to open two medical clinics in New Hanover County on the southeastern coast of North Carolina. The regional health care system and Jordan previously partnered to open two Michael Jordan Family Clinics in Charlotte, N.C., bringing comprehensive primary care, including behavioral health and social support services, to the area’s most vulnerable communities. Jordan’s gift will help Novant Health bring this same integrated care model to more rural and rural-adjacent communities in his hometown, offering much-needed services to those who are uninsured or underinsured. The two new clinics are slated to open in early 2022.
“I am very proud to once again partner with Novant Health to expand the Family Clinic model to bring better access to critical medical services in my hometown,” said Michael Jordan. “Everyone should have access to quality health care, no matter where they live, or whether or not they have insurance. Wilmington holds a special place in my heart and it’s truly gratifying to be able to give back to the community that supported me throughout my life.”
To date, the two Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Clinics in Charlotte have seen more than 4,500 patients, in addition to providing critical COVID-19 response. Nearly 1,000 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered from both the Freedom Drive and North End locations with plans to scale up vaccination efforts even further as supply increases.
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STATE NEWS BRIEFS FOR 02-18-21
TORNADO KILLS THREE IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY
[OCEAN ISLE BEACH] Brunswick County authorities say three people were killed an at least two were injured when a tornado hit the area Monday evening. Sustained damaged was “devastating” and many survivors had to be rescued from their damaged home. Downed power lines made rescues been more difficult, according to the Brunswick County Emergency Services. As many as 50 homes were damaged in the Ocean Ridge Plantation area.
NEW BILL WOULD PUNISH CITIES FOR DEFUNDING THEIR POLICE
[RALEIGH] A new bill introduced by Republican state senators would make North Carolina municipalities think twice about defunding their local law enforcement agency. Republican Sen. Chuck Edwards, the key sponsor of the Police Funding Protection Act Senate Bill 100 says the measure would stop cities and towns from cutting more than one percent of their law enforcement budget a fiscal year. In 2020, demonstrators across the U.S. demanded funding be shifted to social service agencies from police agencies in the aftermath of George Floyd’s police killing.
NC GOP CENSURES SEN. RICHARD BURR FOR VOTE TO CONVICT TRUMP
[RALEIGH] By unanimous vote Monday night, the central committee of the NC Republican Party agreed to censure outgoing Republican U.S. Senator Richard Burr for his vote last Saturday to convict former Pres. Donald j. Trump during his impeachment trial. Trump had been accused of inciting the riotous Jan. 6th at the U.S. Capitol. Burr, finishing his third term in the Senate, said what Trump did was “clear.” Many of his fellow Republicans, however, believe that the former president is not guilty because he left office before his trial. The U.S. Senate failed to convict Trump, 57-43.
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