Representative Carl Ford – District 76
♦ Twenty-Fourth Week of the 2015 Long Session
The big news out of Raleigh this week is the passage of Senate Bill 22, dubbed the Monuments bill, which will protect North Carolina’s historic markers and monuments from any future overzealous political meddling. It’s an important bill considering what is happening in neighboring states, it is our sacred duty and honor to remember and protect the memory of the veterans of past wars. I was eager to support it.
Also this week, the Senate decided to shut down all of its committees. This is significant because it marks a serious hold on business as we wait for the budget negotiations to resolve. Everybody is holding their bill hostages and the House and Senate are ready to hunker down to protect their interests. I hope we can get a pro-business, pro-growth, pro-North Carolina budget put together soon.
Bill Updates
“Historic Artifact Mgt. and Patriotism Act” – Senate Bill 22
This bill originally contained legislation related to the handling and storage of old United States flags, but recent events gave the bill the opportunity to protect certain monuments and artifacts significant to our State’s heritage. Section 3 of the bill was added earlier this year, which creates a special class of monuments in statutes called “objects of remembrance” and prohibits their removal from public space. The bill came at just the right time to start protecting these historic objects; just this week one of the monuments memorializing the contributions of southern women during the Civil War was defaced with graffiti.
I was proud to stand up for North Carolina history and culture by voting in favor of the bill. It was signed by the governor on Thursday.
Thank you to everyone who came by to see me at China Grove’s Farmer’s Day. It was a great day to meet and hear from constituents and it was an honor and pleasure to host the new NC Republican Party Chairman, Hasan Harnett (middle). Hassan is the first chair to visit our celebration.
Thank you for taking the time to read about the work I was able to accomplish this week for Cabarrus and Rowan. Expect to hear big news as the 152nd resumes its legislative session and budget process.
Please share this newsletter with your friends and family in the district. Also, please remember to tune into the Houses’ Weekly Republican Address on YouTube and Town Hall Thursdays on Twitter. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
God Bless,
Carl
Legislative Office: (919) 733-5881
District Office: (704) 305-3541
carl.ford@ncleg.net
