Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts got a loud ovation when she walked into the City Council chambers for Monday night’s zoning meeting. “We are not prepared to add this item to our agenda this evening, however, we urge the state to take action as soon as possible and encourage continued dialogue with the broader community”.
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Govenror pat MCcrory’s office announced Friday that he would call lawmakers into a special session this week to repeal HB2, only if the Charlotte city council drops the non-discrimination ordinance.
Several versions of a compromise deal have been in the works, some offered by lawmakers, others by lobbyists – including the N.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association, who said they are working to stem what they say is collateral damage to the tourism industry in the wake of the law. The most obvious is that it is entirely within McCrory’s control to call the legislature into session, if he wants to, and it is entirely within GOP leaders’ control to introduce a bill that repeals HB2.
“For the last nine months, the governor has consistently said state legislation is only needed if the Charlotte ordinance remains in place”, McCrory spokesman Josh Ellis said in a statement. “These ordinances are common sense local protections that actually create a competitive advantage for Charlotte”, said Equality North Carolina Executive Director Chris Sgro.
McCrory and the legislature can act without Charlotte making a move, but giving in on the stand they’ve held since March could cost them support among social conservatives that McCrory and other GOP politicians desperately need now that mail-in absentee voting has begun. “And, like the majority of North Carolinians and businesses across the state, we believe that’s exactly what they must do”.
The NCRLA statement said, “The unintended consequences of Charlotte City Ordinance #7056 and House Bill 2 have taken a considerable toll on our state as a whole. We all know what must be done – and that is to immediately repeal HB2”.
But in a freakish twist, the same Republican politicians who put HB2 in place ― and who have the authority to repeal it anytime ― are now blaming critics of the law for being the reason they can’t repeal it.
“This deal was done, and was going to be done, but for three people and they’re all sitting in Charlotte, ‘ the Democratic lawmaker said”. Entertainers, including Bruce Springsteen, canceled concerts and companies such as Deutsche Bank scrapped plans to add jobs in the state over objections to the law.
“While the Governor and legislature have been willing to compromise to find a resolution, Roy Cooper and Jennifer Roberts have been following the orders of radical Washington, D.C. special interest groups who will not stop until they impose an extreme, politically-correct agenda on our state to allow men to use women’s restrooms, showers and locker rooms”, Hayes continued.
Targeted for defeat by LGBT advocates for signing HB2 into law, McCrory is trailing in his bid to win re-election in a traditionally “red” state.
Complete coverage: House Bill 2 Nearly 50 percent of those surveyed oppose House Bill 2, compared with almost 40 percent who support it. “It is absurd, dishonest and wrong to blame the damage caused by H.B”.
The new efforts to repeal both the city’s non-discrimination ordinance and HB2 come following announcements from the NCAA and the ACC that it would move major sporting events out of the state. “The governor should call for a special session today”.
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The Charlotte City Council considered such a repeal in May, but it was voted down. “It’s time for the governor to be a leader, not a follower”.
