Latest news with #LindseyPrather
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas legislative push places focus on state of gerrymandering in North Carolina
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Efforts by Texas lawmakers to redraw congressional maps further in their favor has placed a renewed focus on gerrymandering, the drawing and redrawing of electoral districts to benefit a single party. The practice is not isolated to Texas. 'That's what we have in North Carolina,' said Bob Phillips with Common Cause NC, a group advocating for fair, nonpartisan maps. 'Most of the legislative, most of the congressional districts, we already know who's going to win because the way the lines are drawn, and actually that's the way it is in much of the country.' A power grab by NC Republicans becomes a referendum on democracy in the states Despite North Carolina being classified as a 'purple' state, gerrymandering by state Republicans gave the GOP a 10-4 control of congressional seats and only one seat short of a total supermajority in Raleigh. As Philips points out, it is a strategy that has been used by both parties. 'When the Democrats were in control, they never supported redistricting reform. When they lost control, then they are jumping all over it,' said Phillips. Democrats have tried multiple times in recent years to pass legislation that would allow voters to decide how districts are drawn, by lawmakers or a nonpartisan commission. One of the authors of the latest bills, Buncombe County State Rep. Lindsey Prather, acknowledged her party has a history of gerrymandering. 'I'm well aware of the fact that Democrats gerrymandered in the past here in North Carolina. They did. And there are Democrats that are gerrymandering in other states right now across the country,' said Prather. But she argued that it doesn't eliminate the need for new maps. No reelection campaign for Democratic after North Carolina GOP redrew U.S. House map 'We are a purple state, and our voters support nonpartisan state and our voters support nonpartisan, independent redistricting which is why this bill that we wrote would put it to the ballot,' Prather added. Outside the legislature, former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr has taken legal action. He's asking the State Court of Appeals to order maps be fairly drawn, creating districts that are compact and connected, not based on voting patterns. 'If you don't have fair elections then democracy fails,' said Orr. It Is Orr's hope this renewed attention caused by the controversy in Texas will convince both the public and those in power that change is essential. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Representative Lindsey Prather on how her region is faring six months after Hurricane Helene
Rep. Lindsey Prather (D-Buncombe Co.) It was six months ago that Hurricane Helene devastated much of western North Carolina with record-breaking rainfall and flooding. Since that time, federal, state and local officials have worked in determined — often heroic — fashion to help communities recover. Today, however, the situation is best described as mixed. As NC Newsline learned in a conversation with Buncombe County State Representative Lindsey Prather, while much of the region is back up and running, the situation varies widely from place to place. While most roads are clear and many homes and businesses back to normal, huge needs remain, and Prather says much more is needed from state government — particularly in the way of grants — to help get the region's economy back on its feet. Click here to listen to our full interview with Rep. Prather.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hurricane Helene's six-month anniversary underscores need for more state action
Starlink was widely used in western North Carolina during the early days after Hurricane Helene. (Photo of storm debris by Getty Images) It was six months ago this week that Hurricane Helene devastated much of western North Carolina. By now, you'd think elected leaders would have long since devoted all of the resources at their disposal toward emergency relief and getting the basics of life in the mountains back up and running. Unfortunately, while state lawmakers did approve a new recovery package last week, they continue — quite inexplicably — to ignore several basic and well-documented needs. Topping the list: direct aid to businesses wiped out by the storm and renters left homeless. As lawmakers like Asheville's Rep. Lindsey Prather have repeatedly explained, offering loans to folks who've lost everything isn't enough. If mountain communities are going to come close to recovering, the state needs to use its rainy day fund to provide direct grants. Lawmakers should also heed Gov. Josh Stein's plea to aid devastated local governments and state parks. The bottom line: North Carolina has the money to do much more to help hurricane ravaged communities recover. The legislature's failure to allocate it simply makes no sense. For NC Newsline, I'm Rob Schofield.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NC House Democrats want to bring back an earned income tax credit
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — North Carolina House Democrats are trying to get more money into the hands of people who need it across the state with an earned income tax credit. 'We need to be thinking of creative ways to implement tax cuts that are actually helping the people that need to be helped,' Representative Lindsey Prather said. She's one of the sponsors on House Bill 181, an act to bring back an earned income tax credit to North Carolina. It would put money in the pockets of people who earn an income from working and even more money if they have children. The state hasn't had this tax break since 2014. 'We know that people across North Carolina are struggling, and we know that our state can handle a tax credit like this. It is something that given a short period of time would really stimulate our economy,' Representative Prather said. Similar bills have been introduced in the past with Republican leadership in the General Assembly saying the state can't afford this, and people don't need tax cuts but rather good paying jobs. 'All that is is an excuse to then pivot to talk about companies and corporations and how to bring businesses in instead of focusing the argument on the people that are being impacted day to day,' Representative Prather said. Sponsors of the bill say they're also looking to protect tax paying citizens right now as some tax breaks for corporations could be on the horizon. 'Republican leadership in the North Carolina legislature have enacted a plan that is going to bring our state corporate income tax rate down to zero by 2030 and that's causing huge concerns,' Representative Prather explained. Since the bill was only filed on Monday, it hasn't been referred to a hearing yet. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
