Sen. Tillis stood up to Trump on cabinet appointments. Others should follow | Opinion
President-Elect Donald Trump has proposed some highly questionable individuals for cabinet positions in his administration. Mr. Trump is fighting to bypass traditional Senate review, claiming he will order senators into recess if needed to slide his picks through.
I applaud U.S. Senator Thom Tillis for opposing recess appointments of cabinet members. He stated, “That should be absolutely off the table.” Senator Tillis is right to emphasize the importance of the advice and consent of senators as stipulated in the Constitution. We relinquish the Constitution and the rule of law at our peril. I’m grateful that Sen. Tillis is taking a stand and encourage his colleagues to do so as well.
Heather Stein, Chapel Hill
Reps. protect kids
I worry about my toddler son growing up in a world filled with smartphones and social media. Social media is great for keeping in touch with your friends and relatives, but it is also designed to be addictive. Developing brains don’t know better than to swipe through video after video. I’ve seen kids loose sleep, worry about their body image and receive messages from strangers.
It’s time to reclaim our kids’ online safety. The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) is a very straightforward bill — sponsored by Democrats and Republicans — that protects kids online by regulating addictive features and harmful content.
Rep. Wiley Nickel, please give parents the autonomy we so desperately need. Help KOSA pass before the end of the year. If you don’t, our kids may never get the chance to flourish that they deserve.
Marta Whitfield, Clayton
Sen. Berger’s comment
I strongly disagree with the statements made by Sen. Phil Berger concerning the vote counting process. I worked at my precinct for about 20 years and was the chair of the Wake County Board of Elections for 10 years.
The people who work in precincts and local election boards are hard-working, dedicated citizens. No one would work there unless they were dedicated to the election process and wanted the best and most accurate elections. My suggestion is for the elected members of the General Assembly and Congress to volunteer to work on a November General Election.
Provisional ballots take a long time to see if that vote can legally be counted. There are laws that could be changed to help with this process. Perhaps, Sen. Berger may wish to meet with election board director Karen Brinson Bell and ask for suggestions to expedite the election process.
Constance Mitchell, Rolesville
Tomorrow’s workers
With only 55 workers for every 100 open jobs as of 2023, North Carolina faces a severe workforce shortage. As a Durham Technical Community College instructor, I recently joined a panel to discuss equipping our current and future workforce with skills in A.I. and other emerging technologies.
Despite the high demand, many workers feel unprepared. Roughly 53% of North Carolina workers report feeling unequipped to use A.I. tools. Those most familiar with these technologies often come from privileged backgrounds, leaving under-served communities at a disadvantage.
We need equitable access to A.I. and hands-on STEM learning to bridge this divide and prepare students for tomorrow’s job market. From applying digital tools in small businesses to using machine learning in healthcare, the potential applications are vast. We must act to ensure these opportunities are accessible to all North Carolinians. Let’s invest in the skills that will power our future.
Cecila Chan Milla, Durham
GOP harms elections
North Carolina’s Republican leadership has shown its identity. Justice Allison Riggs’ parents are among the 60,000 voters Republican Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin has challenged statewide. This is a brazen display of raw political power that damages the concept of fair elections.
With 14 years service as an election official in Durham and Wake counties and eight years experience as a reporter who covered state government and politics, I hope North Carolina’s voters take notice.
Mark G. Rodin, Morrisville
This story was originally published December 1, 2024 at 5:00 AM.