By L.A. Williams
Christian Action League
May 20, 2016
RALIEGH – House Speaker Tim Moore shot down an attempt to repeal House Bill 2 before it ever got a hearing Thursday, ruling a proposed amendment to the state budget bill out of order.
Democrat Rep. Darren Jackson, who wanted to repeal the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act and earmark $2 million for an ad campaign to “rehabilitate North Carolina’s image as a business leader,” did not seem surprised that his amendment was not welcome, even as he referred to HB 2, a law passed in late March specifying public restrooms as sex-specific, as the “elephant in the room.”
“Of course it’s not the wooden elephant that stands on people’s desks, but it’s the potential loss of federal funding,” Jackson said. “But I understand that is a debate for a different day and a different time.”
The idea that the amendment was ill-timed was basically the reasoning Rep. Moore (R-Cleveland), used to prevent its introduction. A Moore spokesman cited a House rule that requires proposed amendments to be “germane to the measure under consideration,” which on Thursday was the state’s $22.2 billion budget, approved 103-12 in the House and now on its way to the Senate.
“Once again our legislative leaders are to be commended for standing firm on this issue,” said the Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League.
“This situation was just another example that the House leadership is resolute in their commitment to keep our women and children safe. I hope supporters of HB 2 will take every opportunity, even if they have already done so, to express their appreciation.”
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