Governor Cooper on Infrastructure Plan: 'The Road to a Brighter Future Runs through North Carolina'

Governor Roy Cooper says President Joe Biden's plan to boost the nation's economy by improving its infrastructure

is just what is needed to help North Carolina and the rest of the country recover from the coronavirus pandemic. Cooper hosted Vice-President Kamala Harris and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg here in North Carolina as the officials crisscrossed the country in support of Biden's "American Jobs Plan." Afterwards Cooper authored an editorial (click here to read) touting the importance of the plan.

Cooper wrote "The American Jobs Plan will do exactly what it says — support good-paying jobs for people with all types of skill sets and education backgrounds. By employing their talent to strengthen our roads, rebuild our bridges and improve the structures that deliver drinking water, these investments will return dividends for decades to come."

To pay for his more than $2 trillion investment, President Biden wants to raise the corporate tax rate to 28% – a percentage that the White House noted is still below what corporations paid before President Donald Trump's tax cuts in 2017, according to USA Today. Biden also wants to increase the minimum tax on U.S. multinational corporations to 21%. Biden has been meeting with Republicans to try to gain support for his plans, but Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has said his goal is to block Biden's entire agenda.

USA Today published an article (see it here) that gives a clear picture of the American Jobs Plan. In addition to roads and bridges, the plan would pay for improvements to public transportation, education, elder and child care, broadband, research and development and other investments to reshape the future of the American economy.

Got the Vax? Lose the Mask! Governor Cooper Lifts Mask Mandate

Big news for North Carolina last week as Governor Cooper lifted the statewide mask mandate, social distancing requirements, and capacity restrictions. The Center for Disease Control announced last week that people who are fully vaccinated no longer need to wear masks in most situations outdoors and indoors. Although the pandemic is not over, the effective vaccine distribution is moving our state in the right direction. Some businesses are still requiring masks and other precautions, but many of us are breathing a sigh of relief through an uncovered nose these days.

According to WRAL News, Cooper put the state under the mandate on June 24, 2020, with the state's daily average of new coronavirus cases at about 1,300. Almost a year later and after a January peak of 8,700 new cases per day, North Carolina is back to an average of 1,300 new cases per day.

May 17 Meeting To Consider Board of Elections Nominees

At the regular monthly meeting on May 17th, the County Executive Committee will consider a slate of nominees for the New Hanover County Board of Elections proposed by NHCDP Chair Andre Brown. The County Executive Committee consists of Precinct Chairs and Vice Chairs, County Officers, SEC Members, Chairs of Registered Auxiliary Organizations and Elected Officials. As usual, all New Hanover Democrats are welcome at the meeting, but only CEC members will be asked to vote on the slate. CEC members are asked to make a special effort to attend so that we will have a quorum for this important meeting.

The nominees are:

Evelyn Adger Bryant (Chair) -- Evelyn has been a Board of Elections member since April 2018. She has worked as a legal assistant since 1993 and currently works with attorney Andrew L. Waters. In that capacity she manages the attorney's calendar, writes correspondence, prepares presentations for criminal trials and performs other administrative duties. She has worked one-on-one to improve the academic achievement of low-scoring students as a teacher for LINC INC. She serves on a variety of local boards and was chosen Phenomenal Woman of the year in 2017.

Derrick Miller (Board Member) -- Derrick has been a member of the New Hanover County Board of Elections since January 2020. In 2018 he was a plaintiff in the successful Common Cause v. Lewis case, which established that North Carolina's extreme political gerrymandering of NC Senate Districts 8 and 9 violated the state constitution's guarantee of free elections. Derrick testified effectively about how residents in the gerrymandered "Wilmington notch" were disenfranchised. Derrick has been the UNCW department chair for World Languages & Cultures since 2018.

Lyana Hunter (Board Member) -- Lyana has been an Assistant Public Defender with the District 5 Office of the Public Defender since since 2010; prior to that time, she spent three years in a solo law practice. She also was general counsel to the D.C. Public School system from 2005 to 2006. She is recognized as a Child Welfare Specialist by the National Association of Counsel for Children and was a 2018 winner in WILMA's Women to watch.

Oliver Carter III (Alternate) -- Oliver has been with Carter & Carter Attorneys at Law since 2009, and is a Certified Specialist in Creditors' Rights. He practices law in Creditors' Rights, Business and Commercial Bankruptcy and related areas. In 2020 Oliver organized Voter Protection volunteers as a Deputy Regional Team Leader for the NCDP Voter Protection Program in Southeastern NC. The 2020 Voter Protection effort was the biggest ever in North Carolina.

EVENTS

County Executive Committee Meeting -- May 17th

When: Monday, May 17, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Zoom. Here's the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87104462507?pwd=cFpRaDZSWWF3aXJVYk1xZlV5TzNmUT09

Alternatively, you can call in at these numbers:

+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

Meeting ID: 871 0446 2507

Passcode: 524887

Chairman Andre Brown will present the slate of Board of Elections nominees and the nominees will introduce themselves. If you are a CEC member, please attend so that we will have a quorum to vote on the BOE slate. The vote will be conducted under the provisions of Plan Of Organization Rule 2.06. The voting procedure is described in a proposed Meeting Rule which you can review here. Only CEC members can vote, but all Democrats are welcome.

2021 Congressional 7th District Convention -- May 22nd

When: Saturday May 22, 10:00 a.m.

Where: Zoom.

The Keynote speaker will be NCDP Secretary and Publisher of Good News about Democrats, Melvin Williams. Register in advance for the meeting here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. All 7th District Democrats are welcome, but only delegates elected at their County Convention can vote.