People In Politics - 4/8/11 Print
People In Politics
Friday, 08 April 2011 02:00

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State lawmakers are spending plenty of time on the new budget, but they're also dealing with a slew of bills that would change election law in our state. Damon Circosta, executive director of the N.C. Center for Voter Education, joins host Donna Martinez to discuss the push for a photo ID to vote and claims that it would disenfranchise the elderly and minorities, the push by Republicans to end public financing of campaigns, and bills that would add the political affiliation back to the ballot for judicial candidates and remove political affiliations from all offices on the ballot.

We find out just how testy legislators have gotten as they prepare to redraw the legislative and congressional districts, as required by law. David Bass, reporter for Carolina Journal, describes the rhetorical slings and arrows tossed by both parties over who will sit on the redistricting committee and what's ahead as the Democrats fear a loss of electoral influence and the Republicans eye a gain.

Rick Martinez, news director of the N.C. News Network, SGRToday.com and NewsRadio 680 WPTF, updates us on news media requests to unseal John Edwards' deposition in the lawsuit filed by his former mistress Rielle Hunter against Edwards' former aide Andrew Young. Martinez also talks about rumors of money woes for the state Republican Party, a breach of security at the Governor's mansion, verbal attacks on a Democratic primary opponent for Rep. Mike McIntyre, and President Obama's re-election campaign. Then North Carolina News Network's Gurnal Scott reports on constitutional concerns over state tax reform, and 2008 Libertarian candidate for governor Mike Munger explains why he left the Republican Party and offers a critique of the Republican majority in the General Assembly.