N.C. Senator Ellie Kinnaird's Newsletter

March 1, 2011 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Ellie Kinnaird

Greetings from the North Carolina Senate,

The Republican majority is moving fast on issues they have espoused for many years and now are able to pass.

I voted to lift the cap on charter schools, although many of you disagreed with me. I was persuaded by the sponsor of the bill, Malcolm Graham, an African-America from Mecklenburg County, who has long been concerned that black male students are not getting either academic or social support in regular public schools. He cited examples of charter schools that are geared to achievement in that group of students and feels that we need more charter schools that can address those unique needs with creative solutions. The bill requires diversity reflecting the population, accountability, and provisions for disabled children. What it doesn’t require, and the Democrats tried to fix with amendments that I voted for but were defeated, is the requirement for all new schools to provide food and transportation. That is crucial, because parents who are poor often cannot supply lunches and transportation thereby keeping those children out of charter schools. I spoke with the Republican sponsor of the bill who says he will work to get those provisions added to the bill in the House.

A bill called the Castle doctrine allows people in their homes when broken into to use deadly force to protect themselves and their family when they feel they are in imminent danger. That is and has been common law for centuries dating back to British law. But this bad bill goes farther and says that one can use deadly force in one’s car or business. Picture a homeless person approaching a car to ask for money, or a drunken person rattling the door of a closed 7/11. This bill allows shoot first, no questions asked. It doesn’t allow time for the person fearing for his safety to even call 911. Technically, this bill presumes fear on the part of the person using deadly force in such a situation that can be used in the trial setting. It shifts the burden to the prosecutor, if they are seeking to prosecute the home owner, to prove that the defendant didn’t fear for his safety. Of course, the person already has self-defense available, but that did not deter the sponsors who wanted to extend the reach to cars and businesses.. This is an NRA bill. In the meantime, mayors across the country are saying enough is enough. Mayors Against Illegal Guns are supporting a “Fix Gun Checks” bill sponsored by Congressman Charles Schumer that would require all names of people who are prohibited from buying guns be entered into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System and require a background check for every gun sale in America.

I signed onto a bill, sponsored by Gladys Robinson, a former Member of the UNC Board of Governors that will allow the student member a vote on the UNC Board of Governors. I have introduced the bill every term, including one time when we had almost all Senators signing on and it passed the House several times. This year, the senator who kept the bill from being heard is no longer in the Senate, so there is renewed hope for the bill.

A perennial bill to raise the cigarette tax to $1.00, is proposed by the Alliance for Health, comprised of many groups, such as the American Cancer and Lung Societies, March of Dimes, AARP, Covenant for NC’s Children and many more. 62% of the public surveyed favor raising the tax to balance the budget while 66% favor it to improve health. A significant rise in the price of cigarettes would also keep children from starting to smoke. Once a person is passed 21, they do not start smoking, so this is an important factor in the health field. The Republicans campaigned on no taxes and have repeated it during the session so it is unlikely to pass.

Smart Start - Partnership for Children that has been so successful in providing to working families safe and enriched early child care was challenged by some Republicans in the House based on a study by the Civitas Institute, a far right think tank. Supporters showed up in droves when the word got out to support this important program. What will happen to Smart Start is unknown.

Keep in mind, while we cut programs for children, the U.S. spends $20 billion a month on Iraq and Afghanistan and seven young people have been killed since February 6th.

But to end on a cheerful note, the crocuses are in bloom and the robins are back. And we all hope for an end to the brutal dictatorship in Libya.

Paid for by Ellie Kinnaird for Senate • Campaign Address: PO Box 668, Carrboro, NC 27510 • 919-918-3432
Legislative Office Address: Room 628 LOB, 300 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27603 •