VOLUME 9 ISSUE 22 | THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2024
NSJONLINE.COM
inside North State Journal’s annual ranking of the state’s top lobbyists is out. See who made the cut from more than 750 lobbyists who have served as registered lobbyists or legislative liaisons this year. See the rankings on A9.
MAKIYA SEMINERA / AP PHOTO
the
Biden bows out, endorses Harris
BRIEF this week
After weeks of pressure, the president announced he won’t see reelection
Secret Service director steps down Washington, D.C. The director of the Secret Service resigned Tuesday in the aftermath of the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump that unleashed an outcry about how the agency failed in its core mission to protect current and former presidents. Kimberly Cheatle, who had served as Secret Service director since August 2022, faced growing calls to resign and several investigations into how a gunman was able to get so close to the Republican presidential nominee at an outdoor campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Cheatle’s departure was unlikely to end the scrutiny of the longtroubled agency after the failures of July 13, and it comes at a critical juncture ahead of the Democratic National Convention and a busy presidential campaign season. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have promised more investigations. An inspector general probe and an independent and bipartisan effort launched at President Joe Biden’s behest will keep the agency in the spotlight.
Menendez resigning from Senate after conviction Trenton, N.J. U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez is resigning from office Aug. 20 following his conviction for taking bribes for corrupt acts including acting as an agent of the Egyptian government, The Associated Press reported Tuesday. Menendez had insisted after the July 16 verdict that he was innocent and promised to appeal. The resignation gives New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, the ability to appoint someone to the Senate for the remainder of Menendez’s term, which expires on Jan. 3. The seat was already up for election on Nov. 5. Democrats have nominated U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, who’s in strong position in the Democratic-leaning state. He faces Republican Curtis Bashaw. Menendez, 70, was convicted of charges that he sold the power of his office to three New Jersey businessmen who sought a variety of favors. Prosecutors said Menendez used his influence to meddle in three different state and federal criminal investigations to protect his associates. They said he helped one bribe-paying friend get a multimillion-dollar deal with a Qatari investment fund and another keep a contract to provide religious certification for meat bound for Egypt.
State Health Plan, Aetna to set out on benefits road tour The new third party administrator replaces BCBSNC in 2025 By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell announced that the State Health Plan and Aetna, the plan’s new third party administrator, will be hitting the road to meet with members about benefits and “enhanced programs” that will begin Jan. 1, 2025. Per a press release from Folwell’s office, the road tour will give State Health Plan (SHP) members the chance to ask questions and learn more about the transition. Flu shots will be available at road tour stops for members while supplies last. The road tour will begin in Raleigh at the treasurer’s office on July 25. The next stop will include the General Assembly in Raleigh on Aug. 22, followed by stops in Charlotte, Wilmington, Asheville, Winston-Sa-
lem, Fayetteville and other locations. The SHP 2025 open enrollment period is Sept. 30 through Oct. 25, and members will receive information in the mail this summer. Webinars, telephone town halls and other in-person events will be part of the road tour, with details found at shpnc.org/upcoming-events. “We’re thrilled to offer teachers, state employees and others who serve our state the ability to meet directly with representatives of Aetna,” Folwell said in a press release. “With the litigation behind us, we are focusing on providing a seamless transition for members. The new contract reflects a partnership with Aetna not only focusing on transparency and lowering costs, but also providing high-quality and accessible health care.” The road tour follows the conclusion of legal challenges to the selection of Aetna as the third party administrator (TPA). Blue Cross and Blue Shield See AETNA, page A8
try, talking with Americans about the clear choice in this momentous election. And that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead.” By A.P. Dillon Speculation on who Harris North State Journal will pick as her vice presidential running mate has includRALEIGH — President Joe ed North Carolina Democratic Biden bowed out of his reelec- Gov. Roy Cooper, who was with tion campaign, saying in a let- Harris stumping for Biden last ter Sunday posted to the social week in the state. Cooper supmedia platform X that he will ported Biden at a Raleigh camnot seek the Democrat Party’s paign rally following the presnomination. ident’s disastrous He is the first presJune debate perforident to not seek remance. election since PresiOther names dent Lyndon Johnson “I am mentioned as a poin 1968. tential running mate honored “It has been the with Harris include to have the greatest honor of my Kentucky Gov. Andy life to serve as your President’s Beshear, PennsylvaPresident,” Biden’s endorsement nia Gov. Josh Shaletter said. “And while piro and Michigan it has been my inten- and my Gov. Gretchen Whittion to seek reelec- intention mer. tion, I believe it is in A little over an the best interest of my is to earn hour after Biden’s party and the country and win this letter hit social mefor me to stand down Cooper issued a nomination.” dia, and to focus solely on statement thanking fulfilling my duties as Vice President Biden for his service. President for the re- Kamala Harris “President Biden mainder of my term.” has cemented his Biden, whose camplace among our napaign had asserted he would tion’s finest Presidents,” Coonot be dropping out of the race per said. as recently as Sunday morning, Cooper later issued another said he would address the na- statement endorsing Harris. tion this week. “I’ve known @VP going back In a separate post on X, to our days as AGs, and she has Biden endorsed Vice President what it takes to defeat Donald Kamala Harris to succeed him Trump and lead our country as the party’s nominee for pres- thoughtfully and with integriident. ty,” Cooper wrote. “I look forHarris released a statement ward to campaigning for her on X praising Biden’s public as we work to win NC up and service and saying she would down the ticket.” pursue the nomination. It is unlikely Cooper would “I am honored to have the step down as governor if selectPresident’s endorsement and ed as Harris’ VP pick. Should my intention is to earn and win he step down, Lt. Gov. Mark this nomination,” her state- Robinson would take over ment said. “Over the past year, I have traveled across the coun- See BIDEN, page A8
NCSBE approves RFK Jr.’s party, denies another The We The People Party was approved, but Cornel West’s Justice For All Party was denied By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — For the third time in a month, the North Carolina State Board of Elections met about certifying two proposed political parties that have presidential candidates who want to be included on the November election ballot. The board voted to certify the We The People Party — with candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. — while denying candidate Cornel West’s Justice For All Party. The North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) voted 4-1 to approve the We The People Party (WTP) but denied certification of the Justice For All Party (JFA) in a 3-2 party line vote.
The lone vote against WTP came from Siobhan Millen, who spent several minutes before the vote making the case that the motives of the two parties to gain certification were in conflict with state statutes. Millen said she believed “North Carolina law was being misapplied” when it came to WTP and JFA. “Our job is to look at the circumstances and see if they actually are parties,” Millen said. “People of good faith can disagree on that question.” She also described in detail that WTP and JFA both were listed under different party names and affiliations in other states as a means of underscoring her point. Millen described two statutes, one on rules for party formation (NC 163-96) and one on the powers and duties of the board of elections (NC 163-122). Millen asserted that the statutes needed to be “read together.”
“I am going to reluctantly vote to recognize We The People, even though I believe there has been subterfuge.” Alan Hirsch, NCSBE chair Because the two statutes concern the same subject matter — petitions for ballot access — North Carolina precedent dictates that they must be construed using the Canon of in Pari Materia on the same subject matter,” Millen said. “Meaning that the two statutes are to be read together.” Millen also claimed this interpretation of the statutes supported the denial of certification. “The purpose and intent of a new party cannot merely be to place a particular candidate on the ballot because that
is the subject matter of GS 163122,” Millen said. “The statutory structure, in other words, makes it clear that a political party is intended to be more than a transitory entity designed to be a vehicle for a single candidate.” However, the statute for party creation cited by Millen doesn’t include consideration of motives. “I don’t really think that we need to hunt for, you know, what is a political party? Because the General Assembly has defined a political party in 163.96,” board member KevSee NCSBE, page A2
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