Capital Beat
Helms resolution passes, but not without protest
A resolution memorializing former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms passed both the Senate and House today, but it did not come without some quiet protest.
No one spoke against the measure.
But Sen. Julia Boseman, a Wilmington Democrat, voted against it – a highly unusual move on a measure that honors a dead person.
Seven other members of the Senate declined to cast a vote, including Sen. Katie Dorsett of Guilford County.
In the House, it appeared the members of the Legislative Black Caucus exited en mass, although most would not speak directly to why they were sitting outside the chamber.
“This is just the best place for me to be right now,” said Rep. Alma Adams, a Greensboro Democrat and chairman of the caucus.
Rep. Earl Jones, a Greensboro Democrat, was more evasive: “I’m just taking a break,” he said.
However, it appeared to my eyes that the members of the caucus made a group decision to not be in the room during debate and/or not vote on the resolution. Certainly, the Helms-Gant campaign might be reason enough to spark this kind of protest.
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