Sen. Apodaca suggests putting HB2 on ballot in November

by Krystyna Biassou, WLOS, April 26, 2016.

The man in the senate who controls House Bill 2's path once it crosses the aisle said state Republicans may leave the bill's fate up to a vote of the people.

Sen. Tom Apodaca (R-Buncombe/Henderson/Transylvania County) told News 13 that Republicans may leave HB2's bathroom question up to voters in November.

"If it were up to me, I'd just put it out to a vote of the people. Let them decide what they want to do," Apodaca said exclusively to News 13. "Let's put it on the ballot and get it over with once and for all. If the majority wants this, fine. If they don't, fine."

He said the vote would be similar to the marriage bill in that it would be an amendment to North Carolina's constitution.

Dozens of protesters arrested late Monday at North Carolina's Legislative Building have been released after a day of demonstrations for and against House Bill 2.

Officers arrested 54 protesters who came to voice opposition to the law late Monday as legislators returned to start their session.

Detention records show the protesters were released late Monday or early Tuesday on a written promise to appear or on bonds that were generally around $1,000. Their court dates are scheduled for early June.

Democrats introduced a bill to repeal the controversial HB2 earlier in the day, but Rep. John Ager (D-Buncombe County) told News 13 it's unlikely the bill will even be heard on the floor.

Ager says any solution to the issues with HB2 will have to come from Republicans.

"I'm imagining they're having meetings to talk about it," Ager said. "They have an out-of-control fire to put out. They may well try to do something, but they don't call me up and ask me what I think about it."

Rep Chris Sgro, an openly gay Democrat who just joined the legislature on Monday, said there's still some smoke rising from the ashes.

"Asheville just lost a $1.5 million conference," Sgro said. "That's just a drop in the bucket of what we're going see. So I really believe that as session moves on, as we continue to sustain this economic loss, there's going have to be consideration for Rep. Jackson's repeal bill."

Neither house is taking any votes Tuesday, so Tuesday will be a day for committee meetings and planning.

http://wlos.com/news/local/54-protesters-released-after-demonstrations-in-raleigh