State lawmakers choose winners and losers through preemption

Publication Date: 2017-10-13

• Author:Mark Dorososin, Jillian Johnson, Damon Seils and Jennifer Weaver
• Publication:The Herald-Sun

While gerrymandering and redistricting have dominated headlines in North Carolina, another tactic is quietly taking power from the people: preemption.

Preemption uses state law to wrest local control from cities, towns, and counties -- and it's happening all over the country. In Texas, cities were prevented from protecting residents from discriminatory laws. In Missouri, higher wages were stripped away by state lawmakers. In Florida, lawmakers loosened gun rules at universities and public parks.

When this happens, the people lose...