Democrats were first to go ‘nuclear’

The Senate Democrats, not the Senate Republicans, created the “nuclear option” which broke a long-standing Senate tradition of requiring 60 votes to end filibusters and allow a vote on judges and Cabinet-level appointees.

While the Republicans invoked the “nuclear option” in order to end the filibuster so that President Trump’s choice for the Supreme Court could be confirmed, they were merely following the lead of former Majority Leader Harry Reid, who broke Senate tradition in 2013.

In fact, Senate Democrats confirmed 84 judges using majority votes to cut off debate and another 20 without cloture votes. Cabinet-level appointees could also be confirmed by majority vote, not 60 as was the case previously.

   New Associate Justice Gorsuch had received the unanimous endorsement of the American Bar Association and had been previously been approved by an overwhelming majority of Senate Democrats and Republicans as an appellate judge.

Republicans are getting the blame for ending Senate tradition; however, it was the Democrats who led the way … not once, but at least 84 times, a fact conveniently left out of most of the news coverage and in the partisan, hypocritical speeches by Senate Democrats.  The Republicans have used this mechanism only one time.  Granted it was for an important Supreme Court appointment which I would submit is the main reason many voted for Trump.

— Phil Kirk

Raleigh

Support HB328

Alan Champion correctly points out (“ACC, NCAA are out for control, not fairness,” April 8) that the ACC and NCAA have clearly violated IRS tax exemption requirements. In order to preserve their multimillion-dollar salaries, NCAA and ACC leaders have offered the safety of women and children as a sacrifice on the altar of political correctness.

Fortunately and wisely, HB 328 the “Athletic Associations Accountability Act” currently before Judiciary 1 Committee of the NC Legislature and co-sponsored by Harry Warren, calls for the Senate and House to file a tax-exempt organization complaint with the IRS to determine if the NCAA and ACC have exceeded the scope of their charters. This bill deserves our support.

— Tim Deal

Salisbury

Going backward

Most of the time, I am proud to be a citizen of Rowan County and proud of the way that our community cares for and about each other. Then, there are times when I cringe when asked where I live. This absurd and backward proposal by Rep. Carl Ford and others has made this one of those times.

House Bill 780 would serve no purpose other than to further disenfranchise some of our citizens by limiting their right to marry whomever they choose. What possible benefit would this resurrection of a closed issue be to anyone? I believe that Mr. Ford’s energy and that of his equally homophobic cronies in the legislature would be better focused on improving the lives of all our citizens rather than curtailing the rights of a few. Using religion as an excuse for prejudice and bigotry is truly un-Christian.

— Laura Thompson

Salisbury

Right and wrong

The lesbian, gays, bisexuals, transvestites, Roy Cooper, Wayne Goodwin and the ACLU are wrong concerning sexuality. God is right. House Bill 780 is needed.

— Jimmy Kinley

Woodleaf

Signs of the times

Obama is the worst president we ever had. If you give people everything, they will vote for you. The people protesting with their faces covered are cowards. The Democrats do not let up. If Hillary had gotten in we would have lost everything. I read Mr. La Rue’s comments “Remember God is in control.”

I read these signs on a black church. “If you want God to bless America, quite legalizing sin” and “God gave us the Ten Commandments, not ten suggestions.” There are many more. I write them all down.

— Catherine A. Sommers

Kannapolis

In praise of trees

I enjoyed reading the recent “My Turn” article from Nan Lund about her being a tree hugger. Her descriptions of the birds, squirrels, man-made sidewalks, and how she has came to appreciate the trees reminded me of the Joyce Kilmer poem ‘Trees’ and the last line, “Poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree.”

—  Theron Dellinger

Kannapolis