By Cassie Gavin
Senior Director for Government Relations
This week at the N.C. General Assembly the focus was, like the previous few weeks, again on redistricting. No environmental bills were taken up. The legislature passed voting maps for the U.S. Congress, the state Senate and the state House along party lines. N.C. law does not allow the governor to veto these maps so the only recourse opponents have is to go to court to seek redress.
Many expert analysts say that these new maps could flip control of the U.S. House and artificially keep the current N.C. General Assembly majority in control for another decade even if they win less than half the statewide vote.
Redistricting may not, at first, seem like an environmental issue but without a healthy democracy, North Carolinians can't have a healthy environment. This is particularly true for voters of color, who are hurt first and worst by pollution, climate change, and voter suppression measures. Historically, redistricting has been used to exclude communities of color from representation in local, state, and congressional decision-making. Now, our legislature is continuing that legacy. N.C. Sierra Club has, over the years, strongly supported a variety of bipartisan independent redistricting bills but none have become law. Read more about the new maps here.
What’s next? The legislature will not be in session next week. After that, expectations are that there will be a vote on a budget - either a compromise budget worked out with Governor Cooper or one that is not a compromise so may face a veto. Read more about the state budget negotiations here. After a budget vote the legislature may adjourn until the 2022 short session. Stay tuned for opportunities to take action!