No one seems completely clear on whether the Senate will vote next week on health care or what they will vote on if they do. That might be deliberate in part — an effort to reduce the pressure on their members who will be home this weekend. Or it could be because the Senate leadership plans to move forward with whatever seems likeliest to be approved, and that decision won’t be made until the necessarily deals are struck. What we know about every plan that has been proposed, however, is…
Senate Health Care Plan — Let’s Keep Calling
As the Senate continues its secret deliberations on a health care plan that will effect all Americans, the potential impact on one of the most vulnerable groups in our society – children – continues to unfold. Indications are that, in their closed-door meetings, the Senators have taken a similar approach to the House of Representatives. The plan that emerged from the House, the American Health Care Act, would cut $800 billion dollars in Medicaid nationwide. As our friends at NC Child point out, those cuts cannot happen without affecting children…
Update — GA Takes Up Dangerous Gun Law, June 7
Representatives in the General Assembly are scheduled to take up H.B. 746 this afternoon. Calls are still needed against this bill. As our friends at NC Policy Watch reported, the North Carolina Association of Police Chiefs and others in law enforcement have come out again H.B. 746 because of their concerns for public safety. Their article reads in part: House Bill 746 would, with a few exceptions, remove the state’s requirement for a concealed carry permit, allowing anyone 18 or older who legally owns a handgun to carry to conceal…
Gun Bill Advances in GA; National Gun Violence Awareness Day is June 2
Consider the shame of the North Carolina General Assembly working to rush through a bill that weakens gun laws as National Gun Violence Awareness Day approaches. It is right up there with a billboard vilifying Muslims displayed during Ramadan. Both are disturbing enough on their own, but the timing somehow makes them feel even worse. H.B. 746 in its current iteration would allow concealed or open carry of a pistol by anyone 18 or older without first qualifying for a permit, according to The News & Observer. The paper notes…
Action Alert: May 31, 2017 — GA May Act on Guns
As was feared, some members of the General Assembly may be bringing back legislation that would roll back existing gun safety laws. A version of the previously introduced H.B. 746 is scheduled to be heard in the House Judiciary IV committee on Wednesday. A new version of the bill would likely eliminate North Carolina’s pistol permitting system, among other things. Calls to members of the NC House are urgently needed. This from North Carolinians Against Gun Violence: NCGV has learned that a bill being considered in committee tomorrow would eliminate…
Have You Downloaded the NC Council of Churches App?
If you haven’t, here’s a bit of encouragement from Council staff.
House Passage of AHCA — We are Better Than This
The passage of the American Health Care Act by the House of Representatives reflects a political choice on a life-or-death matter. If House members truly believed that this was the best possible plan, they could have held hearings and waited for a new score from the Congressional Budget Office. Supporters would not have been blaming people for being sick or suggesting they move states if they want different coverage. We are better than this. Our partners at the Justice Center have calculated the numbers and explained the impact the AHCA…
Urgent Action Alert: Please Call Congress about Health Care
Our allies at the NC Justice Center have put out the following action alert about efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. As people of faith, we believe that we are all equally beloved children of God. The America Health Care Act values some more than others and leaves the most vulnerable among us even more endangered. A vote is imminent. Please call your representative. From the NC Justice Center: TAKE ACTION NOW! Call Congress to Stop Trumpcare 3.0 Republican leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives just negotiated a…
There’s an App for That
The Council is excited to announce the release of our free app for iOS and Android mobile devices. The current political climate has proven to be chaotic at times and deeply troubling to many progressive people of faith. Each new day seems to bring with it a new set of concerns: health care, HB 2 “repeal,” proposed massive budget cuts, concerns of foreign interference in the election, immigration bans, and threats to withhold funding from sanctuary cities. The list could go on and on and on. It’s hard to keep…
Action Needed Before Monday Night on Guns in Places of Worship
Our friends at North Carolinians Against Gun Violence have issued the alert below. Please note that it requires action before this evening, Monday, March 27. _________________________________________________________________________ We are continuing to try and stop the expansion of guns in congregations that share a space with schools. HB 174 will be on the floor this Monday night. The bill would allow handguns on educational property that is the location of both a school and a place of worship outside the operating hours of the the school. This is unacceptable and must be…
UPDATE: Trumpcare Just Got Worse — Call Before Today’s Vote
Thank you for every call, email, and letter to Congressional leaders that led to today’s decision to pull the American Health Care Act without a vote. Those committed to a compassionate and just vision for our society have had many moments of despair in recent months. Today was a reminder that persistence matters. There is work to be done to fix Obamacare, and vigilance is also needed as attention shifts to other policy areas. But thanks to voices from across America, legislation that would have endangered millions of our sisters…
Taking Away Health Care
Despite evidence that the Affordable Care Act is more popular and more needed than ever, some Republicans in Congress have proceeded with partisan plans to repeal Obamacare while dismantling Medicaid as we know it. Among other things, our friends at Save My Care explain that the plan put forward on Monday would: End ACA tax credits, beginning in 2020, that had been based on income and replace them with tax credits that only go up with age so that most people will pay more out of pocket. Moderate income families,…
Johnson Amendment: Name Games and Far-reaching Impact
By George Reed, Retired Executive Director I came to North Carolina in 1978 to work with the Baptist State Convention after completing a law degree and becoming a member of the NC State Bar. As a result, I have fielded a lot of questions over the years explaining – or trying to explain – to churches what they can and cannot do regarding candidates for public office. I had never until the last year or so heard the term “Johnson Amendment.” And I hadn’t known until a couple of years…
Whispers and Shouts
Sometimes God whispers. Whether through hymns or homilies or kids dancing their way down the aisle to children’s chapel. Sometimes God shouts. Through the amplified suffering of others, known or strangers, all created in the same image. Or through the aftermath of a cataclysmic election. Lately, the lectionary readings have provided desperately needed whispers for me, reminders of what our faith promises. On the third Sunday after Epiphany we were offered Isaiah and the 27th Psalm, promising light and a faithful stand against fear. On the fourth Sunday, the Beatitudes….
Keeping With Community
Enabling good health is a community restoration project. It’s really not about prescription plans, deductibles, out-of-pocket expenses, or any other cost-benefit analysis. It’s about community. When people are sick or hurt they usually don’t feel like getting out much and, depending on their illness or injury, they sometimes can’t (think contagions). They are hostages to separation, whether confined to their home, sequestered in facilities, or shunned by family and friends. The greatest gift Jesus offered people through the plethora of healing events recorded in scripture is restoration to community. No…