Latest news with #VickieSawyer
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmakers draft bill to reassemble Marine Commission, current commissioner voice concerns
The Lake Norman Marine Commission is slated to be dismantled by July 1. But some have safety concerns, so some lawmakers are stepping in. Lawmakers drafted a bill during a committee meeting last week to update and refurbish the old commission, creating a new one with more authority, according to Senator Vickie Sawyer. She told lawmakers that with the revisions, two counties would have to vote to dismantle the commission, not just one. It would also add four commissioners to the existing five. Channel 9's Hunter Sáenz spoke with Jeff Tarte, the former mayor of Cornelius and former state senator, who helped facilitate the bill and has lived on the lake for decades. 'This clarifies and adds specificity to the real authorities and responsibilities of the Marine Commission going forward,' he said. Still, current Marine Commissioners have concerns. Commissioner David Scott told Sáenz last month that he has concerns, including lake safety, water quality, and maintenance. 'The Wild West, deaths will go up, I believe,' Scott said. He also questioned law enforcement's ability to patrol, worried about jurisdictional boundaries. But Tarte said patrols will remain in place. 'Everything will be fine, even if the marine commission didn't exist,' he said. 'Their ability to patrol the lake changes not one iota.' If the bill passes, the counties surrounding the lake would still need to work together to form the commission. Tarte said he hopes that could happen by July 4. 'The main thing is, most of it is common sense,' he said.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Carolina Senate proposal again seeks to bar transgender people from specified public restrooms
A demonstrator holds a sign reading "Trans Kids Belong" at a March 2024 rally outside the North Carolina Legislative Building. Republican state senators have introduced a bill in 2025 that would enact new restrictions on the rights of transgender people. (Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline) A group of North Carolina state senators is seeking to enact a new ban on transgender people using bathrooms and other single-sex facilities that correspond to their gender identity, nearly a decade after the state's infamous 2016 'bathroom bill.' Filed Tuesday, Senate Bill 516, entitled the 'Women's Safety and Protection Act,' would bar trans people from using unisex restrooms, changing facilities, and sleeping quarters that correspond to their gender identities. It would also define 'male' and 'female' in state law strictly according to assigned sex at birth and prohibit the modification of sex markers on birth certificates and driver's licenses. Introduced by lead sponsors Sen. Vickie Sawyer (R-Iredell) and Sen. Brad Overcash (R-Gaston), the bill states its purpose as twofold: 'to clarify and reconcile the meaning of the terms biological sex, gender, and any other related terms in State law' and to 'provide protections for women against sexual assault, harassment, and violence' and other 'acts of abuse committed by biological men.' Joining Sawyer and Overcash in sponsoring the bill are Republican state senators Lisa Barnes, Warren Daniel, Bobby Hanig, and Ralph Hise. Hise and Daniel voted in favor of the House Bill 2 bathroom ban in 2016, while the other sponsors were not yet serving in the legislature. None of the bill's sponsors responded to a request for comment. Unlike the 2016 ban, Senate Bill 516 takes aim at a smaller scope of facilities — prisons and other confinement facilities, domestic violence and rape crisis centers, and public schools — and specifically those that receive state funds. But where that bill's scope was limited to bathrooms and changing rooms, this proposal also specifies sleeping quarters, and its emphasis on shelters has prompted concerns from civil rights advocates that trans women seeking protection from domestic violence and sexual abuse could be placed at risk for further violence. 'Transgender people already face higher rates of harassment and violence than cisgender peers,' said Reighlah Collins, policy counsel at the ACLU of North Carolina. 'This is just setting up trans people for further attacks and further vulnerability in these places where people are supposed to be safe.' The bill includes exemptions for family use of facilities, rendering medical or emergency aid, performing custodial work, inspections, and maintenance, and law enforcement activities. It also excludes policies at domestic violence and rape crisis centers to accommodate minors and individuals who require physical assistance. The legislation would require that all bathrooms, changing facilities, and sleeping quarters at the facilities it covers be used by individuals of one sex at a time, not including those exemptions. And it prohibits public schools from hosting events where students share sleeping quarters from grouping together students of different sexes unless they have received permission from parents or guardians. Jazmynne Cruz, a spokesperson for the LGBTQ+ rights organization Equality NC, wrote in an emailed statement that the group was 'disheartened' by a bill they view as 'yet another attack on our transgender community.' 'As we continue to learn more about the implications of this bill, we remain committed to keeping you informed and sharing meaningful ways to support our transgender neighbors,' Cruz wrote. 'Our fight for equality continues, and we are stronger together.' Advocates for the bill framed the issue in terms of protecting women. Ashley Vaughan, the press director for the North Carolina Values Coalition — a religious right advocacy organization — wrote in a statement in response to the bill that 'men are men, women are women, and men should not be allowed to rob women of their safety and privacy.' 'Defining male and female by biology in North Carolina law is important because when men can identify as women it invalidates hundreds of laws and policies designed to protect women,' Vaughan wrote. 'We need to protect women and girls in private spaces where they are vulnerable.' Collins argued that such framing is disingenuous, and that the bill's enforcement mechanism — which opens up facilities and state agencies that do not comply to lawsuits — risks exposing all women to the use of invasive techniques to determine individuals' birth sex, such as physical searches and examinations. 'Senate Bill 516 would leave all women — transgender or not — vulnerable to accusations and discrimination based on how well they conform to someone else's standard for their gender,' Collins said. 'If they don't look like what people expect people to look like in that bathroom, they are likely to face pushback and really setting them up for danger.' Less than a decade ago, North Carolina experienced an enormous national and international backlash after the implementation of HB 2, the 'bathroom bill' that barred trans people from using public restrooms corresponding to their gender identity throughout the state. The bill prompted business leaders around the country to pull projects from North Carolina in a show of protest, costing the state an estimated $3.76 billion according to the Associated Press. The state also lost out on major sporting events, including the 2017 NBA All-Star Game, which was set to be played in Charlotte but ultimately moved to New Orleans. Chris Cooper, a political scientist at Western Carolina University, said that context makes him 'surprised' that senators would broach another bathroom bill, even as national sentiment has moved right on some trans issues in the intervening decade. 'I expected the General Assembly to lean into bills around gender-affirming care for minors and about trans women in sports — two parts of the trans issue where they seem to be on the side of public opinion,' he said. 'I was a little bit surprised to see a bill get introduced that seems to go back in time, to sort of give away the rhetorical advantage they seem to have on this issue.' Cooper noted that top Republican leaders — like Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, whose support, he said, would give 'a golden highway to passage' for almost any bill — had not joined onto SB 516 as a sponsor, suggesting there may not be an appetite among leadership for such a far-reaching measure. 'The bathroom issue, the driver's license issue — those seem to be places where the public might be a little bit more on the trans rights side,' Cooper said. 'I could see that kind of backlash [that occurred after HB 2]. I can almost guarantee, if this becomes law, there will be lawsuits, there will be backlash.' But President Donald Trump won reelection in part by launching broad attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris for her support of transgender rights, with campaign ads castigating her for being 'for they/them' while Trump was 'for you' and for stating during the 2020 campaign that she would support government-funded gender-affirming surgery for undocumented immigrants. 'Trump got this right, and now North Carolina got this right,' wrote Vaughan, the North Carolina Values Coalition spokesperson. And other Republican legislatures states have passed laws restricting trans rights with far less pushback than North Carolina received in 2016. Should SB 516 become law, North Carolina would be the fourth states to codify 'male' and 'female' by assigned sex at birth, the seventh state forbidding the change of sex markers on birth certificates, and the 15th to bar trans people from at least some single-sex spaces aligning with their gender identity. SB 516 comes amid a wave of legislation in North Carolina seeking to curtail the rights of trans people to express their gender identity and restrict their access to gender-affirming healthcare. In 2023, North Carolina banned gender-affirming care for minors and barred trans student athletes from participating in women's sports at most schools, two issues that Trump championed on the campaign trail the following year. 'This is part of a coordinated, larger strategy across the country to push transgender people out of public and civic life, despite the clear signs that this is discriminatory and doesn't work,' said Collins, the ACLU policy counsel. A group of GOP lawmakers also introduced a bill Wednesday that would seek to expand parents' access to their kids' medical records, examinations and treatment, including discussions of gender identity. House Bill 519, labeled the 'Parents' Medical Bill of Rights' by its sponsors, would grant parents the right 'to access and review all medical records' of their child. It was prompted, lawmakers say, by constituent complaints that common medical practice allowed children starting at 12 to opt out of sharing information with their parents. 'We must stop operating under a system that sidelines parents and assumes institutions knows better,' said Rep. Jennifer Balkcom (R-Henderson), who said her son had just turned 12 and had seen medical professionals asking for his consent to share information. 'I'm paying for the insurance,' added Rep. Brian Biggs (R-Randolph). 'I want to be involved.' At the core of that medical practice is a 50-year-old law created to allow minors to discuss sensitive medical topics, including pregnancy and venereal disease, with a doctor. But the bill sponsors say it's led to conversations and decisions they don't support — such as being vaccinated for COVID-19 or having discussions about sexuality. 'This has to stop,' Biggs said. If the bill were to become law, it would likely have wide-ranging impacts on sensitive medical discussions for children — including those dealing with pregnancy, sexuality and gender-affirming care. (In North Carolina, gender-affirming care is banned until age 18; abortion is banned after 12 weeks of pregnancy.) Neither bill has yet to be scheduled for a committee hearing. NC Newsline's Galen Bacharier contributed reporting.
Axios
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
NC Republicans revive "bathroom bill" themes in new legislation
Two North Carolina Republican state senators unveiled legislation Tuesday that echoes the state's 2016 "bathroom bill," also known as HB2, which banned transgender people from using restrooms that align with their gender identity. Why it matters: It's been nine years — almost to the day — since state legislative Republicans filed the infamous HB2, sparking nationwide backlash that cost the state billions, aided Democrats in winning the governor's mansion and forced Republicans to backtrack. Driving the news: This year's bill, titled the Women's Safety and Protection Act, includes language much like HB2 in that it defines "biological sex" and restricts access to bathrooms, but it is more sweeping in scope. The bill includes an extensive definition of "biological sex or sex" — along with "boy," "father," "man," "male," "girl," "mother," "woman" and "female" — that appears to mimic recent guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It applies bathroom and changing room restrictions to a broader umbrella of facilities, including prisons, rape crisis and domestic violence centers and schools. The bill, sponsored by state GOP Sens. Vickie Sawyer and Brad Overcash, would also grant people who encounter someone of the "opposite biological sex" the ability to sue facilities that violate the law and block transgender people from changing their birth certificate because of sex reassignment. Reality check: An estimated 1.7% of the world population is born with biological traits that don't fit the binary of male and female sexes. In North Carolina, 0.9% of adults identify as transgender. Between the lines: The political climate now is vastly different than it was in 2016, when Republican Gov. Pat McCrory's signing of HB2 into law likely cost him re-election. Numerous state legislatures have since implemented laws restricting bathroom access, and President Trump has made rolling back trans rights a top priority of his administration. What they're saying: "I don't anticipate the corporate community or the sports and entertainment community or the Democratic party to aggressively push back against this effort because the American public better understands the impact this issue has on locker rooms, women's sports and prisons, unlike eight years ago," McCrory told Axios. "The political environment has changed dramatically." Flashback: North Carolina's Republican-controlled Legislature successfully advanced — and passed into law — legislation banning people assigned male at birth from playing on women's sports teams in 2023.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Transit momentum: Newly filed bill would allow sales tax increase for transit
Charlotte's push for a sales tax increase for transit took a big step forward Monday with the filing of the 'Mecklenburg Transportation Referendum' bill in Raleigh. Senators Vickie Sawyer, Bill Rabon, and David Craven introduced the bill in the state senate. Senate Leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Destin Hall are expected to address the bill's prospects during an address to the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance Monday afternoon. ALSO READ: Charlotte Douglas Airport to change general, corporate aviation operator Managers for the city of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and all towns except Matthews released a statement Monday morning thanking the senators for sponsoring the bill. 'Senators Bill Rabon, David Craven, and Vickie Sawyer, as sponsors of the bill, deserve our sincere thanks and appreciation for understanding the importance of this proposal and for allowing our community the opportunity to determine its transportation future by making a choice for increased regional transportation infrastructure investments,' the statement said. 'The bill provides the opportunity for unprecedented funding for roads, transit and bus systems that will have both immediate and long-term impacts for our commuters, residents, and visitors.' The bill grants the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners the authority to authorize a 1% sales tax increase referendum. Local leaders have expressed a desire to hold the referendum vote in 2025. According to the bill, voters would be asked if they are 'for' or 'against' 'one percent (1%) local sales and use taxes, in addition to the current local sales and use taxes, to be used only for roadway systems and public transportation systems.' Sales tax collection would start in 2026. Plans call for 40% of the proceeds to be used for road improvements, 40% for rail improvements and 20% for buses. The bill specifically references the Red Line. The Red Line is the proposed commuter rail from Uptown Charlotte to Iredell County. Charlotte City Council purchased the tracks necessary for the rail from Norfolk Southern last year. The bill says at least 50% of the Red Line must be completed before the completion of any other rail project 'absent the existence or occurrence of force majeure events that delay completion of the Red Line or make completion of the Red Line impractical.' Plans call for the creation of a new regional transit authority to determine and oversee funding decisions as a result of the new sales tax. The creation of this authority isn't included in the bill but is expected to be added in or introduced in a separate bill in the future. The bill says the authority has to solicit input from the towns of Cornelius, Davidson, and Huntersville on the Red Line design. Should Mooresville want the Red Line to extend into its town, the authority will have to talk to Mooresville as well. The bill says the Red Line should not terminate in the town of Davidson without the approval of Davidson. The introduction of the bill provides a much-needed boost of momentum for Charlotte's transit goals. Mayor Vi Lyles has been advocating for the 1% sales tax increase since 2020. 'In a community that presents opportunity, where more people are arriving every day, this will provide infrastructure to support a good quality of life. It will help secure a more prosperous and better future through transportation investments,' Mayor Vi Lyles said in a statement. 'We still have a lot of work to do, but having a bill filed is an important milestone – one that we have been working towards for years. I look forward to the work in front of us, with our partners, to deliver on a future that will make a difference for all of us because it will make a difference in the quality of life for our region.' Speaker Hall and Senate Leader Berger are addressing the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance at 2 p.m. In a statement, the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance and other Charlotte business leaders said they strongly support the legislation. 'Thank you to the members of the General Assembly for advancing this momentous piece of legislation,' interim President and CEO of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance Andrea Smith said. 'Investments in transportation infrastructure are critical for the region's long-term competitiveness, success, and quality of life for all.' 'The broader business community overwhelmingly supports the proposed legislation to expand our transportation infrastructure, and we couldn't be more appreciative of Raleigh's leadership for their ongoing commitment to furthering the economic growth of our region,' Advocate Health CEO and Chair of the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council Gene Woods said. Statement from Managers: The Managers of Mecklenburg County, the City of Charlotte, and the towns of Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Mint Hill, and Pineville, representing 97% of the county, applaud the filing of Senate Bill 145. Senators Bill Rabon, David Craven, and Vickie Sawyer, as sponsors of the Bill, deserve our sincere thanks and appreciation for understanding the importance of this proposal and for allowing our community the opportunity to determine its transportation future by making a choice for increased regional transportation infrastructure investments. The Bill provides the opportunity for unprecedented funding for roads, transit and bus systems that will have both immediate and long-term impacts for our commuters, residents, and visitors. The road funding provisions are unique in that funds will be allocated directly to the City and the individual towns across the county where local governments will have the independent authority to make decisions about roads, intersections, safety improvements, and other ancillary road enhancements within their communities that will have a positive daily impact on residents. The City and the towns have road infrastructure needs that are currently unfunded and cost our citizens time, car upkeep, impaired quality of life and limit growth opportunities. New funding would be available to address these needs and also help solve the 'orphaned road' problem that has been a concern for many for far too long. The overall impact this legislation provides for our region is extraordinary and will enhance our opportunity to continue to meaningfully contribute to the state's economy. We express our genuine gratitude to the forward-thinking sponsors of Senate Bill 145 and look forward to supporting them and their colleagues in the North Carolina House. Partnerships between localities and our state lawmakers, as demonstrated by the filing of this bill, are why our state continues to enjoy the success it has achieved. Statement from Mayor Vi Lyles: I want to thank the many people who worked so hard to get us to this point and the members of the Metropolitan Transit Commission for their continued work. I also want to express my gratitude to Senator Vickie Sawyer, Chair of the Transportation Committee; Senators Bill Rabon, Chair of the Transportation Committee; and David Craven, Chair of the Finance Committee for introducing this bill and understanding the importance of this work to our region and our state. In a community that presents opportunity, where more people are arriving every day, this will provide infrastructure to support a good quality of life. It will help secure a more prosperous and better future through transportation investments. We still have a lot of work to do, but having a bill filed is an important milestone – one that we have been working towards for years. I look forward to the work in front of us, with our partners, to deliver on a future that will make a difference for all of us because it will make a difference in the quality of life for our region. It's also important to point out the creation and governance structure of a new regional transit authority is also critical to our region's long-term success. It is my strong desire that the structure that the city, county, and majority of towns agreed to remain intact. Statement from Charlotte Regional Business Alliance: The Charlotte business community strongly supports legislation filed today at the North Carolina General Assembly to expand our region's transportation system. As one of the fastest growing regions in the United States, with 117 people moving to the area every day, we must stay ahead of other metros and keep pace with our population growth to ensure people have mobility choices and we can provide for the reliable movement of goods and services. Legislators are stepping up to lead the effort at the General Assembly. Senators Bill Rabon, David Craven, and Vickie Sawyer have filed legislation to advance the transportation plan. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger has also been a leading pro-growth voice for North Carolina. We appreciate their leadership. The legislation will allow the people of Mecklenburg with an opportunity to vote yes for much greater investments in roads, transit, and bus systems to ensure we maintain the outstanding quality of life we know is threatened by increasing congestion. Having a transportation system that meets the needs of our growing population and ensures we remain attractive for businesses to grow and relocate here is critical to our sustained economic vitality. We look forward to working with the North Carolina Senate and lawmakers in the North Carolina House to continue to move the transportation plan forward and proactively plan for the continued growth and prosperity of our region. By 2050, the region's population is expected to swell nearly 50% to 4.6 million. WATCH BELOW: CATS Micro launches in north Mecklenburg County
Axios
12-02-2025
- Business
- Axios
Sen. Sawyer: Mecklenburg transit bill is "a long way from being palatable"
The Republican senator leading Mecklenburg County's transit bill through the General Assembly says members of her caucus remain largely opposed to a tax increase. Why it matters: Sen. Vickie Sawyer, who represents north Mecklenburg County, was iffy about the bill's chances early on. Her message has not become more encouraging. The bill is "a long way from being palatable to have enough votes to even get to the floor," Sawyer wrote in emails that Charlotte Rail Advocate, a local transit advocate, shared with Axios. Meanwhile, the City of Charlotte and Charlotte Area Transit System's policy board are dedicating significant time and energy to preparing a transit plan, which can't move forward without a revenue source. The tax would generate $3.8 billion for buses, $7.8 billion for rail and $7.8 billion for roads over 30 years. The city expects to leverage that money to secure grants and matches from the federal government. What they're saying: Sawyer tells Axios, "[A]s you can imagine it's not a popular thing to ask conservatives for the right to raise taxes for a county that they don't represent." Context: If passed, the bill would allow Mecklenburg County to put a referendum on the 2025 election ballot, asking voters to approve a 1-cent sales tax increase to fund road and transportation projects. It would generate $19.4 billion over 30 years, with 40% dedicated to rail, per the legislation. Some critics are against the funding cap because they say it wouldn't be enough for the full east-west Silver Line light rail. "At this point, it will be difficult to even get the taxing portion of the legislation passed, much less the makeup of the breakdown of the spending plan," Sawyer wrote in her emails. Flashback: In a rare event, the Mecklenburg County state delegation and city leaders met last month to discuss the sales tax pitch. "I'm excited," Sawyer said at the time. "I mean you know what? Let's try it. Either we win or we lose, right? Let's just give it a shot." The bottom line: City leaders want the bill not only to pass — but to pass quickly. If the measure makes it onto the ballot, they'll need sufficient time to campaign for "yes" votes. Otherwise, the referendum may be doomed to failure anyway. The City of Charlotte has already committed to buying train tracks for the Red Line commuter rail, with the expectation it'll be reimbursed through the proposed sales tax revenue. Go deeper: Charlotte's 4 rail lines, what's built and what's coming How Charlotte could spend its $19.4 billion in transit sales tax revenue The long road ahead in 2025 for making Charlotte's transit dreams a reality Why CATS is moving forward with the $845M Gold Line streetcar extension The transit tax would transform the experience of riding a Charlotte bus Everything to know about the Red Line
