The Senate divide
If you were watching or listening in on the state Senate Tuesday and Wednesday, you'd have seen and heard firsthand why Republicans in that chamber believe they've been dealt a very bad hand by the Democrats. One big problem for Republicans, of course, is that Democrats are in charge, just as they have been for, oh, a century or so. There are 30 Democrats and 20 Republicans, and when one party holds 60 percent of a chamber, they do pretty much as they please.
From the Democratic point of view, that's just the way the game works. The majority rules, and the Democrats see their job as running the chamber efficiently and cranking out legislation they see fit to run the state. One of those bills was to shore up the state employees’ health plan, which has nearly run out of money and which required significant changes, including higher contributions from employees' dependents and an infusion from taxpayers, too.
Republicans largely voted against the bill Tuesday, at least partly because they did not feel part of the process in figuring out how to change the plan. Some Democrats took great umbrage at Republicans' refusal to take responsibility for supporting the plan changes, making Democrats look bad for raising rates and boosting taxpayer support for the plan, and giving Republicans a campaign issue next election to bash the Democrats.
Sen. David Hoyle, D-Gaston, said he was appalled at the lack of Republican support. "Are y'all going to let them get away with that?" he asked me shortly after the vote Tuesday. Hoyle thought Republicans were spineless in refusing to support a measure that everyone knew would have to pass in some form or other to keep the health plan afloat.
But Sen. Tom Apodaca, R-Henderson, came back to the press section in the Senate and slumped down beside me. "It's hard to take your medicine when it's being shoved down your throat," he said glumly before trudging back to his seat.
Wednesday things didn't get any better when the Senate voted on eight members of the UNC Board of Governors. Like Republicans, Democrats caucus on a lot of issues and decide the party's position. Democrats also decide who they want to win the coveted seats for the Board of Governors. They controlled the voting Wednesday, too, in effect leaving legislators with a choice of eight names for eight seats. That had Senate Republican leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, fuming about the process.
“Yesterday’s vote on the State Health Plan illustrated how Senate Democrats fix a bill behind closed doors. Today, we saw how they manipulate the UNC Board of Governors election. This 'Soviet' styled balloting is an affront to our democratic system and to the people of North Carolina,” Berger said in a news release.
Those are fightin' words, but don't expect them to change anything. The Democrats still hold 30 seats,the Republicans 20. It's going to be a long session for the GOP.
