Raleigh – Republican Representative John Blust took his Republican colleagues to task over how Republicans have broken the General Assembly in a discussion around the NC Farm Bill, blasting them for being beholden to a single special interest, for not standing up against a broken process, and for breaking the General Assembly.
Rep. Blust began his speech by admonishing his colleagues for being beholden to a single corporation, Smithfield Foods. Smithfield Foods’ PAC has given to numerous powerful Republicans, including Speaker Moore, Senate President Pro Tem Berger, House Rules Chair Lewis, House Majority Leader John Bell, bill sponsor Sen. Brent Jackson, and Rep. Dixon who shepherded the bill through the House.
“To tell the truth: this is about one giant corporation … this is about a giant farming operation and it is being sold to the public and this body like it’s Uncle Henry, Auntie Em, Dorothy, Toto and the three farmhand-type farms. That’s not what it’s about. It doesn’t apply to farms like that.”
“This bill is moving like this because we’re taking sides in a dispute. We know better than the court. We know better than the facts. We know better than the law. We’re going to protect one litigant, and we’re going to say to the other, ‘You don’t matter. You don’t count.’ It’s because the one side has the ear of the powers that run this institution.”
But Rep. Blust’s chief concerns lay with General Assembly leaders for rushing through a controversial bill by breaking the General Assembly’s normal, deliberative process:
“We’re the people’s House, the people’s legislature, and we ought to do business in a deliberative fashion that fits the trust that’s been bestowed upon us by the people. That ought to be an ironclad guarantee that we take seriously at all times.”
He then had blunt words for his Republican colleagues who have stayed silent – take up your responsibilities or don’t run for reelection:
“What we do here is not a small matter. And people who really don’t want to look at these bills and have the debates, there’s still time till August to go ahead and take your name off the ballot and your party can replace you. This is our duty.”
Rep. Blust ended his remarks by again outlining how Republicans have broken the General Assembly:
“An iron curtain has descended on this legislature and it just will not let go. A few people call all the shots and their will governs, and I know the members cannot afford to go against it.
“The General Assembly is broken,” NCDP spokesman Robert Howard said.“The only way to give North Carolina a functioning legislature that looks out for the people – instead of rigging our state for corporations and special interests – is to break the Republican supermajority.”
Editor’s note: The Richmond Observer strives to provide fair and objective coverage of any and all political issues, situations, and/or developments, regardless of party affiliation. As part of this commitment, the Observer is offering this press release for your review. It is also our policy to print news release material in its original format, as it was received, with minimal, if any, editorial adjustments.
