By Brianna Kraemer
Carolina Journal
Following the firing of a FEMA worker for alleged political discrimination in disaster aid distribution after Hurricane Helene, North Carolina lawmakers have moved to ensure such bias never influences emergency relief efforts again.
The state House overwhelmingly passed House Bill 251, “Ensuring Nondiscrimination in Disaster Recovery Assistance,” in a 106-10 vote Tuesday, explicitly barring discrimination based on political beliefs in state-administered disaster aid.
The bill comes in response to reports last November that FEMA was selectively providing aid after Helene, culminating in the termination of Marn’i Washington, a federal emergency worker. A leaked text chain revealed Washington had instructed colleagues to avoid homes displaying Trump signs, sparking outrage and calls for reform.
“This came about after an incident that occurred following Helene, and word was getting out that FEMA was actually discriminating against people based on their political speech,” said Rep. Kelly Hastings, R-Gaston. “And so that’s when we decided we might want to send a clear message about discriminating against someone based on their political speech, being that political speech is under our constitutional jurisprudence – maybe the highest protected speech that we have.”
The bill explicitly prohibits discrimination based on political affiliation or political speech in the administration of state disaster recovery assistance. Violations of the law would be classified as a Class I felony. Additionally, the bill ensures that applicants for state emergency grants are not required to disclose personal demographic information unless legally necessary.
“Our point was that government actors should not discriminate against people, especially after a natural disaster, they should not discriminate against people based on their political speech,” Hastings added.
The bill now awaits consideration in the North Carolina Senate.
North Carolina Republican US Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd sent a letter to the FEMA Administrator in November seeking answers in response to the allegations that FEMA employees were advised to avoid homes that had Trump yard signs in both Florida after Hurricane Milton and in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.
In response to the poor response, President Donald Trump has proposed that states should take over disaster recovery operations directly, hinting at a major shift in how federal disaster aid is handled.
Imagine that…another person who preaches tolerance is intolerant…denying aid to a person based on their political beliefs…this stuff is getting out of hand. Every single tax payer deserves equal access to resources they paid taxes for. It should not matter about politics, sex, gender, race, religious beliefs, etc. Every person should be seen as a person with a soul and nothing else. Equality over equity (Marxism)! You ever notice the folks that are always assaulting people, burning cars, vandalizing private property, burning buildings, protesting in an intersection while working people are trying to get to work, and yelling? They are Marxists. They hate religion, they hate patriotism (despite enjoying the fruits of their forefathers), they hate freedom, they hate opportunity, they hate hard work, and they hate anyone who does not agree with them. They offer little to no logic and reason, but offer only ridicule, intolerance, and hatred.
Folks, America’s foundation was built on freedom and if we don’t get back to working together, we will lose the very freedom the county was built on. I have traveled the world and America is the ONLY free country left. Countries all over Europe are a hot mess and the rest of the world too. If we don’t learn to see each other as a human versus a political party, American will crumble and be no more.
On a different note, I believe all political parties need to be abolished…ALL of them. The parties are cash cows and completely unneeded. Candidates need to run as independents. That is the only way to get Americans out of this group-think.
God bless America…
Well-said, PB&J!
Thank you!
Talk about an overreach! Political identity IS NOT a protected class under the US constitution. Discrimination is perfectly legal! The word “fair” does NOT appear in the Constitution You woke, snowflakes are going to want to “protect” red-heads or left-handed people, or Tesla drivers next! You want fairness, equality, or equity? Go move to SOCIALST Europe!!! #MAGA
How is a state house bill going to require a Federal agency to do anything? It sounds like the Federal worker got what was coming to them. There should be no discrimination when it comes to Federal disaster aid. One bad apple and we need to write a law? (“explicitly barring discrimination based on political beliefs”) This coming from a party that wants to take away votes cast for and powers from elected officials because they don’t like the outcome. What about other types of discrimination?Sure sounds like political pandering!
#Rememberitworjsbothways!