Rogue Democrats Threaten North Carolina Private Schools and Pregnancy Centers
State Senators improperly used their positions on the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations to try to intimidate and threaten private organizations that don’t align with their political views.
North Carolina Democrat State Sens. Michael Garrett and Gladys Robinson recently sent disturbing letters to at least 15 private schools and an unknown number of pregnancy centers throughout the state. The senators threaten the recipients, indicating that if they don’t cooperate by providing the requested information they could be found guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.
The problem is these senators have no individual authority to send demand letters and can only act through the commission on which they serve. The legislature should immediately remove and censure these two rogue lawmakers from the commission.
The demands made by the legislators are intrusive, such as these that were sent to the private pregnancy centers:
- What vendors and materials are used for training personnel and volunteers?
- List all staff and volunteers’ full names and salaries.
- How many consultants and subcontractors do you employ in various areas?
Demands sent to private schools include:
- How many students attend the school and how many teachers do you have?
- Provide all records pertaining to testing performance.
- Provide names and positions of all staff.
- What discipline procedures do you follow?
These are private organizations, and the government has no right to spy on them or demand any of this information. It isn’t surprising though because both senators are outspoken leftists.
Pushing the Envelope
Garrett and Robinson both represent Guilford County, where Biden built an 800-person illegal alien shelter that cost taxpayers $50 million. Guilford encourages illegal aliens into their community through its “newcomer” programs, which provide free services to those crossing the border illegally. It’s no surprise that Biden chose Guilford to house illegal aliens—the state’s extreme Democrat leaders care more about attacking private citizens than protecting them.
Sen. Garrett opposed a bill that would prohibit sanctuary cities and require state officials to cooperate with ICE. He also voted against expanding school choice that would give parents an option to not send their child to a failing public school. Garrett is likely influenced by his Democrat mother, Darlene Garrett, who previously served on the Guilford County School Board.
Sen. Robinson is just as radical. Like Garrett, she opposed a bill requiring sheriffs to cooperate with ICE and report illegal aliens in North Carolina. Robinson opposes allowing parents the choice to leave failing public schools, but she does support Biden’s plan to pay off college loans with taxpayer dollars (a desperate strategy to win back the youth vote).
It’s clear who these rogue lawmakers consider their true constituents, and it isn’t law-abiding families.
Fortunately, attorney Paul Stam, a former legislator, has stepped up to defend the private organizations that are being targeted by these leftists. Stam sent response letters to Garrett and Robinson on behalf of the targeted schools and pregnancy centers pointing out that these legislators had no authority to demand anything of these organizations. Restoration News reached out to Mr. Stam and asked why Garrett and Robinson are attacking his clients. Mr. Stam stated, “They do not like private schools or prolife help for pregnant women.”
It is unfortunate that leftists will go to these lengths to target people who simply want to educate children and help pregnant women. Fortunately, there are great Americans like Mr. Stam willing to fight back against tyrannical individuals like Robinson and Garrett.
(READ MORE: Say “Illegal Alien,” Get Suspended. What’s Wrong in North Carolina?)
