Hickory Sun

Rep. Jay Adams (R-Catawba) supported a decision from the state's Court of Appeals related to voter identification and tax caps. 

In a Sept. 15 Facebook post, the Republican House of Representatives lawmaker said, "Another sensible ruling from the courts. The governor's arguments were nonsensical. Bad day for the Dims..." 

The voting law required photo identification in North Carolina. The law, which was put out to a public vote, passed with 55.49%. The tax cap called for a maximum 5.5% rate, reducing the state income tax from 10%, though it was later amended to 7%. Approximately 57% of voters approved the tax cap. 

The court, as reported by the North State Journal on Sept. 15, overturned a lower judge's ruling, thus reinstating the constitutional amendments. 

"We conclude that the superior court erred in holding that our General Assembly lost its power granted by our state constitution while retaining other powers, simply because a federal court had determined that the maps contained too many majority-minority districts, such that some members elected to that body were from districts that were illegally gerrymandered based on race," Judge Chris Dillon wrote in conclusion, the North State Journal reported. "It is simply beyond our power to thwart the otherwise lawful exercise of constitutional power by our legislative branch to pass bills proposing amendments."