It sounds as though an election law should be considered in which a party-switcher is required to step down, return what he owes to his previous party and to have to run against that party's new pick. Otherwise, the party that's in majority at it's first meeting, barring a member's death or disablement, should be the majority until the next election.
Saturday, January 25, 2003 10:30AM EST
Party switch stirs up House
Michael Decker's move to the Democrats gives new life to Jim Black's efforts to keep speaker's post
By AMY GARDNER AND LYNN BONNER, Staff Writers
A state lawmaker from Forsyth County was reborn a Democrat Friday, leaving the two major parties with an even grip on power in the state House of Representatives and sending an already tumultuous race for speaker into further chaos.
Rep. Michael P. Decker, an 18-year veteran of the House, has voted with staunch conservatives over the years on such issues as liquor sales, abortion and corporal punishment in schools. His defection stunned Republicans and Democrats, and instantly gave House Speaker Jim Black, a Mecklenburg County Democrat, new momentum in his efforts to retain his job. "I'll tell you what," Decker said, reached at his home in Walkertown. "I just decided that Jim Black was the best man for the job. And I felt like the only way to make sure that he had a chance at winning was to switch parties. And so I did."
The switch also wounded the candidacy of Republican Leo Daughtry of Smithfield. Daughtry has lost the advantage of a Republican majority and the confidence of dozens of remaining Republicans who now question his ability to keep the group together.
On Friday, 17 Republican newcomers to the House agreed to meet Tuesday, the day before the General Assembly is scheduled to convene, to nominate a new Republican candidate for speaker.
"The events of today have shown that there is a fracture in the Republican House caucus and that it's due to a lack of leadership," said freshman Rep. Stephen Laroque of Kinston. "The Republican leadership in the House needs to be changed from top to bottom."
Decker switched his voter registration at 10 a.m. Friday, according to the Forsyth County Board of Elections. Before the switch, Republicans controlled the House 61-59; now, the balance is 60-60.
Those numbers will determine the next speaker, who in turn appoints committee chairs and wields tremendous power over the flow of legislation through the chamber. The numbers also will influence the outcome of every piece of legislation, from the budget and beyond, to emerge from the legislature this year.
And the numbers could shift again. Speculation swirled Friday that Decker's defection is only the beginning, and several lawmakers said they share his view that GOP leaders have resorted too readily to intimidation on the speaker vote. Republicans boasted privately, as they have for weeks, that they remained poised to snatch a few Democrats of their own.
Decker and others criticized Daughtry for forcing a pledge to support only a Republican for speaker. They also resent the work of a new group called "Republicans Watching Republicans," which sent letters to some lawmakers urging party loyalty during session votes and threatening to send an "evaluation" of individual voting records to constituents.
"They're saying, you've got to vote Republican or we're going to intimidate you or look over your shoulder every time you vote," said Rep. Cary Allred, a Burlington Republican who has not committed to Daughtry. "They're going to expect me to vote on the Republican caucus position on everything, rather than vote for what's best for my Alamance County constituents?"
At the same time, Republican Party officials and Daughtry supporters speculated about Decker's motives.
State GOP Chairman Bill Cobey said he suspects Decker has been promised a leadership job under Black, such as speaker pro tem. And he suggested that Decker was after the additional pay and retirement benefits that come with a leadership post.
"Is this what we've lowered ourselves to, that positions are for sale?" Cobey asked. "And of course, I don't know. But I'm going to be watching what happens. Here's a guy with a very conservative voting record. It can't be about ideology. It has to be about something else."
Decker, a substitute teacher with little income other than $20,600 in legislative pay and office allowance each year, denied that he struck a deal with Black.
"I didn't ask and he didn't offer," he said.
But Decker did say he is interested in a leadership job. And he acknowledged his disappointment that he was not nominated speaker pro tem by Republicans when they selected their leadership team in the fall.
"There are a lot of political operatives who are upset, and all the Republican members of the House are upset over this," Decker said. "But the rank-and-file people realize that this is a struggle over who is the speaker, who is going to control the House. And that is what it really boils down to."
Black was unavailable Friday but issued a statement welcoming Decker to the Democratic Party.
Gov. Mike Easley also issued a statement that avoided all partisan rhetoric and reiterated his promise to work with all lawmakers "regardless of party affiliation" to balance the budget.
But on the Republican side, the opinions were less tempered.
Rep. Sam Ellis, a Raleigh Republican, said Decker must have "lost consciousness." Daughtry, who learned of the news from Decker's son, said: "If he was promised speaker pro tem, then that would make sense."
In Forsyth County, local party activists began organizing a picketing campaign to force Decker to resign. They will be in Raleigh on Wednesday with "Impeach Mike Decker" signs, said Joyce Krawiec of Kernersville.
"We have stood in a lot of rain working polls for him for a lot of years," Krawiec said. "I was just outraged that he had sold his soul for 30 pieces of silver."
Decker should prepare, some said, for intense pressure over the weekend from local political figures, church friends and even neighbors. Next Wednesday, when the legislature convenes, he might face a few unfriendly stares.
"I wonder what he was thinking," said Rep. Jim Gulley, a Mecklenburg County Republican. "He comes from such a religious side of the Republican Party, and now he's going over to the Democratic Party, which supports abortion and supports the things that he was purportedly against. And I just don't understand what he's thinking."
Staff writer Amy Gardner can be reached at 829-8902 or
agardner@newsobserver.com.
I am hopping mad, Michael Decker is a member of the church I go to in Walkertown, NC , it is an Independent Fundemental Baptist Church. Usually the most Conservitive type of Baptist Church. If you really want to express constitutional rights like I will, He should be kicked out of our church for being dishonest. The pastor of the Church is the most impecable man i know and if he would recieve letters pertaining to Michael Decker's dishonesty I am sure he would seriously consider it. The pastors name is Dr. Bobby Roberson, who I know is not fond of politicians, especially of the dishonest kind. Turn up the heat and send a letter, no email to:
Dr. Bobby Roberson
Gospel Light Baptist Church
P.O. Box 70
Walkertown, NC 27051
Check back to this thread for on the scene updates
Here you go, found this on a message board: Grass Roots North Carolina, P.O. Box 10684, Raleigh, NC 27605
919-664-8565, www.grnc.org GRNC Alert Hotline: (919) 562-4137
GRNC Alert 1-26-03:
TRAITORS IN OUR MIDST
SNATCHING DEFEAT FROM THE JAWS OF VICTORY
[Analysis] As you may have heard, NC House Representative MIKE DECKER, formerly
R-Forsyth, has now defected to the Democratic Party, potentially costing
Republicans control of the NC House, which they won in the November election.
Other rumored defectors are Rep. STEVE W. WOOD (R-Guilford) and Rep. RICHARD
MORGAN (R-Moore).
Let's make one thing very clear: GRNC is a non-partisan organization; we
promote gun rights, not Republicans, Democrats or Libertarians. Moreover, under
the direction of Speaker JIM BLACK (D-Mecklenburg), the
Democratically-controlled NC House has been fair to gun rights.
The Democratically-controlled Senate, however, has been another matter. Under
the control of Sen. MARC BASNIGHT (D-Dare), the Senate has consistently
undermined the rights of gun owners. And although the three defectors have
excellent voting records on gun issues (Decker has even sponsored reciprocity
legislation), and although their defections are undoubtedly related to
intra-party bickering rather than Second Amendment issues, their pettiness
stands to damage your interests, and here is how.
Political districts changed for the 2002 elections. In fact, due to lawsuits,
they were drawn by the courts, and gave Second Amendment supporters far better
representation in both the NC House and Senate.
BUT THESE DISTRICTS ARE TEMPORARY!! In the upcoming session, the NC legislature
will create permanent districts which will impact gun rights FOR THE NEXT TEN
YEARS. By giving control of both bodies to the Democratic Party, Decker et al.
effectively cede more control of the redistricting process to Basnight and the
more anti-gun Senate.
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED
Although it is probably too late to sway Decker (he has already registered as a
Democrat), IMMEDIATE, FORCEFUL INPUT IS REQUIRED FOR WOOD AND MORGAN. In order
to get the message to them ASAP, contact these Reps. AT HOME, not at the
General Assembly. Difficult though it may be under the circumstances, GRNC
continues to advise civility when contacting election representatives.
CONTACT:
STEVE WOOD: at 336-883-9663, 1221-E North Main St., High Point, NC 27262. If
unable to reach him at home, contact his legislative office at: Phone:
919-733-5749, E-mail: Stevewo@n...
RICHARD MORGAN: at 910-948-4238, 8688 NC Highway 705, Eagle Springs, NC 27242,
Fax: 910-295-4578. If unable to reach him at home, his legislative office is
at: 919-715-3010, Richardm@n...
Remind Wood and Morgan that you didn't elect them to subvert your rights and
your representation in the governing process. Also contact:
MIKE DECKER: Again, it is probably too late for Decker, so contact only if time
permits. Let him know that you are disappointed that a conservative gun rights
supporter who even sponsored reciprocity legislation would willingly give
anti-gun liberals a greater voice in the legislature. Contact Decker at
336-595-3008, or at his legislative office: 919-733-5988, Miked@n...