By Josh Bergeron 

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

When National Committeewoman and Salisbury resident Ada Fisher spoke during a Donald Trump rally this week in Greensboro, she gave a sweeping endorsement of the New York businessman.

Fisher started by touting the segments of society that she represents.

“I am black, I am female, I’m a Republican of 50 years, I also have two adopted sons and I am Jewish,” Fisher said. “Now, for people who say we are not a diverse party and we don’t represent whatever, I’ve got it all rolled into one.”

Later in her short speech, Fisher would again stress the importance of diversity. She specifically said women are the lifeblood and the heart of the Republican Party.

“I can tell you that I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think he supported different groups,” she said. “Women, minorities and everybody else are welcome in this party. We have a diverse tent and we want you all in it.”

As Fisher continued, she noted her first encounter with Trump. Fisher said she thought Trump would make a good presidential candidate when they first met. All along, Trump was the best candidate of the 17 original Republican candidates, Fisher said.

“He tells you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear,” Fisher said.

She used Trump’s name as an acronym for the phrase “take us Republican and people of this republic up meaningful pathways.”

She closed by saying she’d do “everything in her power” to get Donald Trump elected.

Foxx wants to block new overtime rule

U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-5, introduced a measure this week that aims to nullify a change in labor law allowing more people to receive overtime pay.

Announced on May 18, the new rule would extend overtime pay to more than 4 million additional people. It would specifically raise the salary threshold at which white-collar workers would be exempt from overtime pay. The threshold would go from $23,660 to $47,476.

House Joint Resolution 95, introduced by Foxx, is relatively short, consisting of only a few lines of text. It states “Congress disapproves the rules submitted by the Department of Labor … and such rule shall have no force or effect.”

A news release about the resolution says the new rule would place a burden on small businesses. Foxx claimed the rule was a partisan way to address overtime.

“Our nation’s overtime rules need to be modernized, but the Department of Labor’s extreme and partisan approach will lead to damaging consequences that the American people simply cannot afford,” Foxx said in a news release.

Under North Carolina’s current congressional map, Foxx represents a portion of Rowan County. The state’s congressional map was declared unconstitutional. As a result, her district will shift out of Rowan at the start of 2017.

NC Senate seat rising in ranks of most likely to change political parties

A new report from Politico this week rates North Carolina’s U.S. Senate seat as the eighth most likely to change hands in the 2016 election.

Previously, the seat — currently held by Sen. Richard Burr — was rated 10th most likely to change parties. The report says Trump’s candidacy for president “is booting Democratic hopes of retaking the Senate in the fall.”

In North Carolina’s senate race, attorney and former state legislator Deborah Ross, a Democrat, faces Burr. North Carolina’s race is one of 34 U.S. Senate elections occurring in 2016.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.