Local lawmakers split 3-1 on HB 2 compromise
Published 12:10 am Friday, March 31, 2017
By Josh Bergeron
josh@salisburypost.com
RALEIGH — Three of the four General Assembly members representing Rowan County voted Thursday against repeal of North Carolina’s “bathroom bill” — Sen. Andrew Brock, R-Mocksville; Rep. Carl Ford, R-China Grove; and Rep. Harry Warren, R-Salisbury.
The fourth, Sen. Tom McInnis, R-Rockingham, voted in favor of the compromise bill, saying it would still protect women and children.
Before the bill passed the House 70-48, Ford spoke against the proposal during debate.
“This is a motion that’s all about money,” said Ford, the owner of a Christian radio station. “If I could use props, I’d roll a basketball covered in money down the aisle.”
Ford said neither he nor his family are for sale.
Warren objected to how quickly the repeal bill was pushed through. He said he received a copy after 11 p.m. Wednesday in an email sent to a personal account and didn’t see it until Thursday morning. He had a 9 a.m. appointment and then went directly onto the House floor.
Warren’s opposition largely stemmed from the process that allowed the bill to come to the floor. It was a vote for concurrence, which didn’t allow members of the House to make changes, he said.
“I didn’t really agree with the parliamentary procedure,” Warren said. “There were different claims as to what cities and counties would have been able to do, and I wanted to be able to vet that with our staff attorneys. I didn’t think it was responsible to vote for it.”
The NCAA pulled its championships from North Carolina in September in protest of HB2 and set a Thursday repeal deadline for the state to have hosting rights at NCAA tournaments through 2022.
General Assembly leaders told members of the GOP caucus that the deadline was not the motivation for the manner in which the bill was considered, Warren said. The NCAA should not dictate when measures are passed, he said.
“I don’t think that any entity outside of the legislature should be in a position to dictate deadlines in which to pass a bill,” Warren said. “If that were the motivation, it would have set up a deadly precedent going forward.”
Asked if he would have voted for an HB2 repeal in any scenario, Warren said it was tough to comment on a hypothetical scenario. He would not have voted for a clean repeal with no additional stipulations, he said.
Brock went a step further in criticizing the NCAA, accusing the group of holding children and bathrooms as “hostages.” He also questioned the NCAA’s nonprofit status.
“The NCAA is trying to push their political ideology by holding ballgames hostage,” Brock said. “They’re violating so many ethical rules. It’s just a complete violation of ethics.”
Brock blamed Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts for the bathroom controversy.
“It is a political stunt gone wrong. Jennifer Roberts has done everything she can as a political hack to try to force attention away from our job growth. She created this political stunt and it has taken up all of the resources of our legislature instead of focusing on expanding business in North Carolina.”
Brock was one of 16 senators voting against the measure. Some 36 voted in favor of it.
McInnis issued a statement touting the compromise, House Bill 142, as the only way to assure the safety of women and children in restrooms and shower facilities.
“This bill makes certain that men are not allowed in women’s restrooms nor are young men allowed in girls’ dressing or locker rooms, and it makes sure there are criminal penalties for any man who enters the women’s and girls’ facilities,” McInnis’ statement said.
“This bill will allow us to strengthen the current penalties relating to illegal entry and illegal activities in restrooms. As a husband, father, and grandfather, I can accept this as a proactive piece of legislation that is the best way to protect the members of our families.”
