Triad Democratic legislators involved in spats over budget, casino bills

One involved Rep. Terence Everitt of Wake County questioning whether Sen. Paul Lowe of Forsyth County publicly opposed the Republican effort to require support of up to four casinos to secure Medicaid expansion funding outside the budget bill.

The other pitted Rep. Cecil Brockman, D-Guilford, against the presidents of the Young Democrats of N.C., College Democrats of N.C. and N.C. Association of Teen Democrats. All four individuals are Black.

In both instances, the conflicts were sparked by comments made on X, formerly known as Twitter.

A proposed revamping of House Bill 149 also would have allowed for statewide use of video gaming terminals.

Everitt criticized Lowe because he was not a signee to a Sept. 20 letter opposing HB149.

According to legislature media outlets, Lowe went to Everitt’s office to speak with him about his posting on X that appeared to not be overtly antagonistic on video. Lowe could not be immediately reached for comment.

On Monday, Everitt said that “Senator Lowe and I had a disagreement. Legislators have disagreements all the time — and there is often some shouting involved.”

Meanwhile, the young Democrat group presidents cited Brockman for being one of five House Democrat votes for the budget compromise bill and lashed out at them for acting in “bad faith.” They called for all five to be defeated in the March 2024 Democratic primary.

Brockman, a member of the House concurrence committee on the budget bill, responded with a missive saying he was serving the overall best interest of his constituents with his vote, and “to grow up.”

Responses on X were decidedly mixed in both praising and criticizing the young Democrat presidents for their comments and Brockman for his response.

Lowe-Everitt dustup

Senate Democrats released a statement Sept. 20 opposing the linking of Medicaid expansion funding with the four planned casinos and video gaming terminals.

Included in the statement was “it’s straining the imagination to conjure a scenario where 11 million people would be held hostage for the bidding of a Maryland casino developer, but that’s where we are today.”

All 30 Senate Democrats appear to be on board with the opposition even though Lowe didn’t sign.

Lowe’s absence caught Everitt’s attention. Hs posted Sept. 20 that “it’s great to see my Senate colleagues — with the exception of #PaulLowejr — standing together against this cruel display of greed and corruption.”

Everitt tagged ForsythDemsNC in the posting.

According to legislative media reports, Lowe went to Everitt’s legislative office later on Sept. 20 where the two talked with Lowe standing at the door.

Lowe told the Winston-Salem Journal on Sept. 21 that “I am disappointed to see Medicaid expansion being tacked onto the Rural Tourism Incentive Program bill. “

“While I support both of these legislative pieces, it is beyond frustrating to see, and deeply immoral, to tie critical healthcare access for more than half a million North Carolinians to gambling. I won’t vote to support a combined bill, and it is my sincere hope they will be separated.”

Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, backed off his support for HB149 on Sept. 21, in large part because of growing opposition to the casinos by at least 30 House Republicans.

Ripple effect

A potential ripple effect from the Lowe and Everitt conflict appears to involve House speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, and his decision to move Everitt’s legislative office to a former supply closet in the basement of the legislative building.

According to NC Insider, Moore’s letter of explanation to Everitt includes that “I am informed and was provided information posted to social media that a member of the Senate took issue with one of your social media missives and sought to confront you directly.”

“I am also informed that you were somewhat concerned for your physical safety and were looking for various points of refuge in which to hide from that member during your retreat from that confrontation. Please know that I believe all members should be able to express themselves without the need to hide in a staffer’s office no matter how timid they are to avoid direct confrontation.”

In August, Everitt had asked the Wake County District Attorney to investigate Moore addressing claims that Moore was having an affair with a state employee, and if there were reasons to bring charges for embezzlement, bribery and misconduct.

Moore told Everitt that that his office had never been used to house a lawmaker in the building’s history, and that he “will get the honor of adding a chapter in the rich history of these hallowed halls.”

Everitt, who is white, said Monday that “it’s telling that the speaker used an incident with an African-American member as his excuse to move my office.”

“When its white members arguing with one another, there doesn’t seem to be a problem. But when an African-American member is involved, then he apparently believes that the white folks are somehow in danger. Even when the speaker is lying, it’s kind of racist.” 

Brockman-Young Democrats dustup

Brockman was one of five House Democrats to vote for the budget compromise bill, compared with no Senate Democrats.

The other House Democrats were Reps. Carla Cunningham of Mecklenburg County, Garland Pierce of Scotland County, Shelly Willingham of Edgecombe County and Michael Wray of Halifax County.

The presidents of three youth-and young-adult oriented groups released a blistering posting targeting the five House Democrats. They are Dorian Palmer for Young Democrats NC, Kema Leonard of College Democrats of NC and Daniel Patterson of N.C. Association of Teen Democrats.

The groups said they “are outraged to hear that several Democrats in the NC General Assembly joined with Republicans (Thursday) in a massive assault on reproductive rights, Black representation in our courts, public education and access to health care.”

“As the first Black men to hold all three of the NC Democratic Party’s youth organizations at the same time, we are particularly sad to see several of our Black elected officials engage in the back-slapping game of closed-door politics that’s been ignoring communities of color across NC for decades.”

The group presidents summed up their posting by saying to the five House Democrats that they should “start acting like Democrats and stop helping NC Republicans pass some of the most brazenly anti-Black legislation we’ve seen in years in a direct affront to the communities you represent.”

“Let this be your notice — March 5, 2024, comes sooner than you think.”

Brockman didn’t hold back in his social media response.

“The implications that simply doing my job is under attack is so outrageous and ridiculous I felt obligated to respond,” he wrote.

“I believe the majority of North Carolinians want politicians to stop bickering and work together to do what’s best for everybody. You might not like it, but I’m willing to work with majority and try to find common ground.”

After saying that “he fought hard for appropriations I thought would have a profound impact on my community,” Brockman added that “when you’re an adult, you have to work with people you may have disagreements with and even may not like.”

“I will continue to do my job in looking out for the best interests of my constituents.

“I trust when election time rolls around, my constituents will do what they have done for the past five election cycles and vote in their best interest.”

Previous history

The conflict between Lowe and Everitt comes more than three years after Lowe was involved in a high-profile issue at the legislature in 2019-20 involving former Sen. Erica Smith of Northampton County that also included former Sen. Toby Fitch of Wilson County.

Meanwhile, Brockman was considered as a potential recruitment target of Moore in April as Rep. Tricia Cotham of Mecklenburg County did switch to Republican in a move that gave the GOP a supermajority in the House.

Smith said in a complaint to the Legislative Ethics committee that she wanted Lowe and Fitch expelled from the Senate, and Sens. Jerry Tillman, R-Randolph, and Mike Woodard, D-Durham, censured. Smith accused Tillman of bullying. Tillman died in February at age 82.

Smith’s complaint, according to the News & Observer of Raleigh, claimed Lowe violated ethical principles and guidelines for creating and maintaining a respectful workplace at the General Assembly, and committed a simple assault during a dispute on Sept. 11, 2019, at the legislative complex.

Smith told WRAL that Lowe has been intimidating and harassing her since 2015, and that other Democratic senators urged her to brush it off.

Lowe provided the Winston-Salem Journal with a copy of the May 21, 2020, Ethics committee’s statement dismissing Smith’s complaint against him. The statement was signed by co-chairmen Sen. Norman Sanderson, R-Craven, and Rep. Stephen Ross, R-Alamance.

Lowe said in a statement that he and Smith “routinely engaged in vigorous debate in the representation of our districts and the citizens of North Carolina. … I wholeheartedly apologize if she felt disrespected or unsafe during those debates.”

“I respect all human beings and have never, in the course of those vigorous debates, threatened Senator Smith in any way.”

Smith said that Lowe may have apologized for her feeling threatened, “but didn’t apologize for his actions.”

Party loyalty

Brockman, in March 2023, joined Cotham and Wray in not voting during a successful House Republican override of Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of Senate Bill 41, titled “Guarantee 2nd Amend Freedom and Protections.” All three were listed with excused absences.

The new law ended local background checks for pistol permits. It was the first successful override of a Cooper veto since 2018.

Brockman told the News & Observer that he was at an urgent care facility at the time of the vote — a statement that was dismissed by critics.

Brockman said he planned to remain a lifelong Democrat, but added he understood some of the reasoning behind Cotham’s switch to the GOP.

“I think she just wanted to do what’s best for her district, and when you’re constantly talked about and trashed — especially the way that we have been over the past few weeks — I think this is what happens,” Brockman told the News & Observer before Cotham switched parties.

“I hope the [Democratic] party takes a strong look at how they react to people making the decisions that they make.”