By Josh Bergeron

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A group of Salisbury residents recently issued a challenge to U.S. Sen. Richard Burr in the form of hundreds of postcards.

The group, known as Salisbury Indivisible, sent nearly 300 postcards to Burr’s district offices asking him to investigate President Donald Trump’s ties to Russia. Burr is a Republican in his third term in the U.S. Senate.

The front of the postcards shows a white dress shirt covered in a blazer with an American flag pin. Also on the postcard is a red tie with a hammer and sickle on the bottom. The hammer and sickle appeared on the flag of the Soviet Union. Generally, the image is seen as a symbol of communism.

The bottom of the postcards include the hashtag “#Russianties.”

Salisbury resident Laurel Harry, a member of Salisbury Indivisible, said the postcards are intended to push Burr to allow an independent investigation of Trump’s relationship with Russia. The postcards are important in light of recent news, Harry said.

In February, The Washington Post reported that Burr and other officials made calls to news outlets in an effort to challenge stories about Trump’s ties to Russia. Burr chair’s the Senate Intelligence Committee, which would be responsibility for investigating any relationship between Trump and Russia.

Because of Burr’s role, Harry said, members of Salisbury Indivisible felt “an extra obligation” to let Burr know about the importance of an independent investigation.

The Salisbury postcards were joined by about 8,000 others sent to Burr’s offices by Indivisible groups across North Carolina, according to a news release. Harry said Salisbury’s postcards were sent to district offices. The Indivisible NC news release said others across the state went to Burr’s Washington office.

A relatively new group, Salisbury Indivisible leans liberal. Harry said the nationwide Indivisibles movement uses strategies from the Tea Party, which formed among conservatives.

Budd silent on Obamacare replacement

Rep. Ted Budd says he wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act, but it’s unclear what he thinks about a bill recently introduced by House Republicans to do that.

Budd, R-13, has not issued a public statement about the Republican bill to repeal and replace Obamacare. Republicans released their bill, known as the American Health Care Act, on March 6.

When contacted by the Salisbury Post, Budd’s press secretary, Melissa Brown, “had just stepped out of the office” at different times on different days. Budd’s office didn’t respond to emailed requests for comment.

He also hasn’t posted on any public social media accounts about the GOP.

Meanwhile, Rowan County’s other member of the U.S. House — Rep. Richard Hudson, R-8 — has frequently discussed his support for the GOP bill.

In an interview after being sworn in to Congress, Budd said he wanted to see a full repeal of the Affordable Care Act.