MCCAIN CAVES TO BIG OIL ON OFF-SHORE DRILLING

1999: McCain, Campaigning In California, Endorsed A Moratorium On Offshore Oil Drilling. "For a moment, Republican presidential hopeful John McCain almost sounded like a San Francisco liberal. The Arizona senator said yesterday that gays and lesbians would be welcome to serve in his administration. He decried the influence of money in politics. He endorsed a moratorium on offshore oil drilling." [San Francisco Chronicle, 7/29/99]

1999: McCain Supports The Current Moratorium On Oil Drilling. "In response to a query of the candidates, Gore and Bradley promised to support the existing moratorium, in addition to opposing the leases. Both also say they will work with the seven oil companies holding leases to find alternatives to drilling. That could mean canceling the leases, or buying out the companies in a deal like the one that secured the Headwaters Forest. McCain supports the current moratorium, but hasn't decided on the pending leases. Steve Forbes hasn't replied to questions about oil drilling." [Ventura County Star, 11/15/99]

State Senator and U.S. Senate Candidate Kay Hagan (D-Guilford) will welcome the 2008 Teach for America- Eastern North Carolina Corps teachers to North Carolina and talk with them about their commitment to education. Approximately 100 new teachers will begin serving this fall in the Durham, Franklin, Granville, Halifax, Johnston, Nash, Northampton, Vance, and Warren County schools, as well as the Weldon City schools.

WEDNESDAY
WHO: State Senator and U.S. Senate Candidate Kay Hagan
WHAT: Kay will welcome 2008 Teach for America- Eastern North Carolina Corps teachers to the state
WHERE: Peace College Kenan Auditorium; 15 East Peace Street, Raleigh
WHEN: 9:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Contact: Colleen Flanagan
Colleen@kayhagan.com
336-686-7053

New Chapel and Three Schools for Fort Bragg Included

U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre announced today that the House Armed Services Committee, of which he is a senior member, has approved more than $697 million for military construction projects for North Carolina military installations in the 2009 National Defense Authorization Bill. The bill includes a brand new Chapel which Rep. McIntyre had specifically requested, as well as three new schools for Fort Bragg.

In noting the benefits to Southeastern North Carolina’s bases, Congressman McIntyre stated, “This is a win-win for our military installations and the communities that support them! The 2009 funding includes a grand total of $179 million for Fort Bragg to continue improvements at this premier installation, and Camp Lejeune will receive $353 million.”

U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre recently welcomed representatives from Star Telephone and Atlantic Telephone to discuss issues affecting communications service for consumers in Southeastern North Carolina. McIntyre and the telecommunication representatives explored the challenges small communications providers face in bringing affordable communications technologies to the rural communities in the 7th Congressional district.

In approving the annual defense authorization bill today, Congressman G. K. Butterfield said the House closed the door on the Navy’s proposed outlying landing field in Washington County.

“The House has taken the Washington County site off the table because it posed a danger to the community, pilots and aircraft,” Butterfield said. “This is a clear message that if the Navy wants to move forward with an OLF it must have the support of the community.”

The conference report on the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Bill includes language repealing “the authority for construction of an outlying landing field at Washington County, North Carolina.” The language goes on to say conferees “expect the Department of the Navy to request new authorization for an outlying field once a study of the impact to the environment is complete and a site is selected.”

The House approved the bill by a 370 to 49 vote. The bill now goes to the Senate for an up or down vote, and, if approved, it goes to President Bush to be signed into law.

Wade Rawlins, New and Observer

Gov. Mike Easley on Wednesday said U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole is failing residents of two counties where the Navy is considering building a jet landing strip by not speaking against the project.

In an unusually sharp exchange, the governor -- who had worked with the Navy to find the sites -- urged the state's congressional delegation to heed local opposition to the so-called outlying landing field in Eastern North Carolina.

"The people in Gates and Camden Counties do not want the OLF, therefore I do not want the OLF in Gates and Camden," Easley said in a prepared statement. "It is time for Elizabeth Dole to learn that she represents the people of North Carolina, including those counties."

By Angela Mack, Wilimington Star
William Barber expects state civil rights activists to get a second wind this week in their race to end racial disparities.

More than 1,000 NAACP members representing North Carolina's 100 counties are expected to attend the 64th annual N.C. State NAACP Convention in Wilmington from Thursday through Saturday.

"Members that come to this convention will get a fresh instillation, a fresh anointing, a fresh call to commitment," said Barber, state NAACP president. "We still have work to do."

Local NAACP officials believe hosting the convention will shed light on local issues. City leaders say the event will not only be a boost to the local economy but may also provide new ways to increase diversity and bring change to the city.

Gov. Mike Easley today announced that TYM-USA will open an assembly facility in Wilson County, creating 31 jobs and investing $1.1 million during the next three years.  The announcement was made possible in part by a $30,000 One North Carolina Fund grant.

“North Carolina is 12th in the nation in the automotive truck, bus and heavy equipment industry, with more than 1,000 companies,” Easley said.  “Our state’s investment in workforce training and education keeps us competitive in this growing sector of the global economy.”

TYM-USA is the U.S. subsidiary of South Korean tractor manufacturer Tong Yang Moolsan Co.  The company will open a facility in Wilson for the assembly of diesel tractors used in construction and agriculture.  While wages will vary by job function, the average weekly wage of the new jobs will be $846 plus benefits, which is more than the Wilson County average weekly wage of $615 not including benefits.

The Eastern Caravan is complete; Jerry just returned the van to the rental place. Young Dems President Zack Hawkins put about 17 hours of driving into that van, so we got our money's worth out of it.

Here is a synopsis of what we encountered and achieved:

• 8/10, Lumberton: We sent groups out to most of the major neighborhoods of Lumberton to do a listening canvas. All over the city people talked about healthcare concerns, usually with other concerns (education, housing, jobs) woven into their story. We got some of these responses on video. As we drove out the bank clock blinked 107... 4:05pm... 108 (degrees Fahrenheit).
• 8/10, Clinton: Despite lightening, hard rain, and what Ben Akroyd described as "tornado sky," we sent groups out to canvas middle income neighborhoods. Because of the intermittent storms, people invited us into their homes so they could register to vote. Ben and Tara Ilsley met a man who was forced to have some surgery. The surgery cost $74,000. To pay it off, he faithfully sends a check for $20 every week. He said he was 66 years old, and if he lives to be 110 he'll have finally paid off his "debt" (his word, not ours). He went on, "I never have considered myself poor, but I've always thought the government ought to do more for people in a worse shape than I am." While canvassers were hitting the neighborhoods, Jerry met with over 40 local party leaders from Sampson and neighboring counties. 
• 8/11, Greenville: We assembled care packages with Give 2 The Troops. The Program Director repeatedly stressed the point "you can support the troops without supporting the war." We assembled over 50 boxes containing books, toiletries, dvds, and girl scout cookies. Read the article in the Reflector here.
• 8/11, Kinston: Jerry had a breakfast meeting with about 20 local party leaders from Lenoir and surrounding counties. They discussed ways the State Party can help local parties achieve their goals.
• 8/11, Windsor: We met Bertie County Chair Penny Thompson and County Commissioner L.C. Hoggard at the Heritage House Restaurant in Windsor. They then took us out canvassing, which was a blast. Thompson and Hoggard both know every single resident by face and name, and many residents greeted Thompson with a hug rather than a handshake. The canvassing went so quickly that we exhausted the doors, so Melissa Price and Teen Democrats President Jennifer Wadsworth
  started flagging down cars in order to register the drivers to vote.
• 8/11, Conway: Without planning to, we were honored to meet the widow of the Representative Howard J. Hunter who passed in January. We got slightly delayed when we helped a man register to vote and he took the initiative to call up friends from the next town over so that they could register as well.
• 8/11, Ahoskie: Jerry met with party leaders from a number of counties at Catherine's Restaurant. A number of leaders expressed the importance of bringing young people into the party. Halifax chair Kathy Knight stayed late to have dinner with us.
• 8/12, Winfall: We went to the service at Melton Grove Baptist Church, where we were warmly received. The farm next door had a huge "NO OLF" sign on it.
• 8/12, Elizabeth City: We toured and weeded a community garden specifically designed for the disabled and those suffering from dementia. They had the garden beds elevated to make them wheelchair accessible. We then took grass shoots from the garden and planted them at a Habitat for Humanity project. The grass is a special species that requires little water and little mowing, ensuring that the new home owners will have a hassle free and environmentally friendly yard.

By Cassondra Lampkin, The Daily Reflector

North Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Meek and about 20 other party members helped pack supplies for troops in Iraq at the Landmark Street headquarters of Give2The Troops. Participating in a service project in support of troops in Iraq is as good a cause as any, Meek said.

"It's the least we can do, given the sacrifices troops are making under very difficult circumstances," he said.

The Democrats visited six other eastern cities Friday and Saturday: Clinton, Lumberton, Sampson, Windsor, Conway and Ahoskie. They engaged in community service activities, door-to-door activism and voter registration, Meek said. Today, the group will stop in Winfall and Elizabeth City.

Though Pitt County is considered a Democratic stronghold, it helps to rally more support here for an increase in voter turnout, Meek said.

"It (the tour) will help to the extent we can come in and motivate people in the statewide election in 2008," he said. "We want voters to know we're not just here at election time."

The crew of helpers lined up in front of piles of books, toiletries, golf clubs and other items before being assigned to help in specific areas.