Who voted 'no?'

Eight members of the House voted against overriding Gov. Mike Easley's veto of a wide boats bill.

Those members are:

Alice Bordsen, D-Alamance

Susan Fisher, D-Buncombe

Sandra Spaulding Hughes, D-Wilmington

Verla Insko, D-Orange

Maggie Jeffus, D-Guilford

Paul Luebke, D-Durham

Mickey Michaux, D-Durham

Jennifer Weiss, D-Wake

In the Senate, Ed Jones, D-Halifax, voted against override, but Jones' vote was not recorded because he paired his vote with the absent Doug Berger, D-Franklin. Under the Senate's rules, Jones can cast Berger's vote for him, but it means neither vote is recorded.

The House and Senate roll call votes are below.



Document(s):
veto votes.pdf

More in the crowd at Obama event

Tim Boyum spotted a few more state pols in the crowd.

On his Political Connections blog, the News 14 Carolina reporter notes that he spotted state Sen. Vern Malone, Reps. Verla Insko and Susan Fisher and NAACP president William Barber in the audience for a Barack Obama speech at the N.C. State Fairgrounds.

Update: James Romoser spied state Sen. Linda Garrou too. 

State pols endorse Clinton

Hillary Clinton released a list of state politicians who have endorsed her.

The list of 60 names includes former U.S. Sen. Robert Morgan, state Sens. Dan Clodfelter and Julia Boseman, state Reps. Susan Fisher and Ronnie Sutton and Mecklenburg County Commissioners Parks Helms and Jennifer Roberts.

"Hillary is the most qualified person for the job — she is a doer and a fighter,” said Julia Boseman in a statement. "I am impressed by her plans to bring health care to all Americans, lower gas prices, and create renewable energy solutions."

It also includes former state Reps. Steve Dolley, Jim Morgan, Max Melton, and Tom Rabon; and former state Sens. Allen Wellons, Frank Block, Tom Taft, Aaron Plyler and Russell Walker.

County commissioners on the list: Gary Barber of Ashe County; Wade Nelms of Carteret County; Gene Gregory of Currituck County; Kay Cashion of Guilford County; Mike Nelson of Orange County; Charles Ward of Perquimans County; Eugene James and Beth Ward of Pitt County; Tommy Melton of Polk County; Roger Oxendine of Robeson County; John Bell, Atlas Price and Roland "Bud" Gray of Wayne County; Tommy Garner of Yadkin County; and Lindy Brown and Betty Lou Ward of Wake County.

Also on the list: Elon Mayor Jerry Tolley, Roanoke Rapids Mayor D.N. Beale, Princeton Mayor Donald Rains, Ayden Mayor Stephen Tripp, Grimesland Mayor Gerald Whitley, Mount Olive Mayor Ray McDonald Sr. and Yadkinville Mayor Hubert Gregory.

Young raises $180,000

David YoungDavid Young kicked off his campaign for state treasurer Tuesday.

The Buncombe County commissioner raised $181,250 at a fundraiser at the home of University of North Carolina Board of Governors member Adelaide Daniels Key.

Among those in attendance were state Reps. Bruce Goforth and Susan Fisher, former N.C. Secretary of Revenue Helen Powers and former Court of Appeals Judge Alan Thornburg.

"I'm humbled by the great showing of support from Asheville and Western North Carolina," Young said in a statement. "This is a great start."

He faces state Sen. Janet Cowell and Raleigh attorney Michael Weisel in the Democratic primary.

One 14 Mafia?

It's hard out here for a legislator.

Just ask Rep. Susan Fisher. According to a post on Jordan Schrader's Capital Letters blog, the Asheville Democrat joined Mebane Democratic Rep. Alice Bordsen and New Bern Democratic Rep. Alice Underhill for a parody of the Oscar-winning song "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp."

The three were among 30 lawmakers selected from across the country to be fellows at the Flemming Leadership Institute at the Center for Policy Alternatives.

After the performance, Fisher said, African-American lawmakers wanted to know how three middle-aged white women knew the song.

"I was like, 'I reach across cultures,'" she said.

No-sex ed

A House bill would make abstinence more about health than morals.

The legislation would change the wording on state statutes on health education. Though middle-schoolers would still be taught an "abstinence-based" course, it would not be as strict.

Currently, the state requires a curriculum that:

Teaches that abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage is the expected standard for all school‑age children.

Under the legislation, it would instead be required to:

Teach that abstinence from sexual intercourse is the only certain way to prevent unintended pregnancy, teach that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to reduce the risk of sexual transmission of diseases, including HIV/AIDS, and provide information about the value of abstinence.

Supporters with NARAL North Carolina and Planned Parenthood and opponents with the Christian advocacy group Called2Action will be at a hearing tomorrow morning.

The bill is sponsored by Democratic Reps. Linda Coleman of Wake County and Susan Fisher, Maggie Jeffus, and Melanie Wade Goodwin.

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