NC voter: It’s hard for me to trust anything Sen. Thom Tillis says anymore

Sen. Thom Tillis

Last month Sen. Thom Tillis signed off on “burn pit” legislation. On Wednesday, Tillis reneged.

In the past, Tillis voted to divert millions from four N.C. military bases to help build Donald Trump’s vanity wall at the southern U.S. border.

Tillis is also on record committing to support same-sex marriage. Will he renege on that as well?

He must be held accountable.

Anthony Quartararo, Raleigh

NC budget

We all read recently about what the North Carolina General Assembly included in the state budget this year. It’s always good to show N.C. residents the outcome of what lawmakers achieved.

However, folks often forget that not making a decision is, in and of itself, a decision.

So, here’s what the N.C. legislature did not do with a surplus budget:

Medicaid expansion, Leandro funding for schools and educators, improve North Carolina’s “worst in the nation” unemployment insurance program, hire more staff to speed up mitigation fund distribution for hurricanes Matthew and Florence, and improve state wages to eliminate all current government vacancies.

Let us hold N.C. lawmakers responsible for all their decisions — not just the ones they talk about.

Chrystal Bartlett, Raleigh

NC abortion ban

The past 50 years of abortion restrictions have been put in place by elected officials, the majority of whom have no medical training.

As a board-certified OB-GYN, this is insulting to my knowledge and skills, for which I have completed many years of education and training.

The 20-week abortion ban that N.C. Republican lawmakers want the state to reinstate is one example of an arbitrary restriction put in place by untrained politicians. Allowing this ban to be reinstated would strip away the ability for North Carolinians to have autonomy to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions.

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein seems to understand that such medical decisions should be left to the patient and their provider, and that restrictions on this process would be harmful for the citizens of this state.

Dr. Jenna Beckham, Durham

Abortion rights

Regarding “The GOP’s position on contraception exposes its abortion hypocrisy” (July 28 Editorial):

This editorial said that if we have learned anything by the overturning of Roe v. Wade, “it’s that our rights aren’t quite as inalienable as we thought.”

The very definition of the word “inalienable” is that it is something that cannot be alienated, surrendered, or transferred. We still have those inalienable rights, whether enumerated in the Constitution or not.

A few individuals with lifetime appointments have determined that a woman’s right to choose can be transferred to the states. They are incorrect, and we must do whatever we can to reverse that flawed decision. It starts with voting.

Caroline Taylor, Pittsboro

Single mothers

Regarding “Woman and children first?” (July 31):

The special report on single mothers raising multiple children in poverty, sometimes living in extended-stay hotels, was shocking and sorrowful. With inflation, as prices for food, rent and clothing rise, it’s likely the situation of these heroic women will only worsen.

What was surprising about this report was that there was little mention of the men who fathered these children. Why are they not supporting these women and children emotionally and financially?

This report certainly serves to emphasize the value of a family with both a mother and a father for the well-being of children. Education seems paramount to breaking this cycle of poverty.

Dr. Paul Lachiewicz. Durham

Dogma in disguise

Regarding “Supreme Court misreads our Founder’s intent” (Aug. 2 Opinion):

Reading Gene Nichol’s column reminded me of prior attempts by conservatives to fashion an interpretive method that would produce the results they desire. At that time “strict construction” of the Constitution was their favored interpretive approach. That went nowhere. Now, we have “originalism.”

One must give them credit. They have a talent for disguising conservative dogma as jurisprudence. The real question is: Why do the rest of us allow them to get away with it?

Randolph Rodgers, Raleigh

Appalling turnout

The 5.9% voter turnout in Wake County for the run-off election on July 26 was appalling. What is wrong with our citizens that they take their vote for granted?

The right to vote and your duty to vote are on the line. Vote every election! It’s the only way to bring about change. If you don’t vote you forfeit your right to gripe and moan about your government.

Ursula Harscheid, Wendell

Raleigh trees

Raleigh is no longer “The City of Oaks.” Travel down almost any street and you see denuded acres crowded with construction equipment and signs proclaiming another subdivision or office building. Those sites with landscaping have bushes which will become trees someday. It seems we’re being told: What, delay progres$$? Never! Go hug a tree somewhere else.

Stanley Serxner, Raleigh