In a bipartisan vote, today the North Carolina Senate overwhelmingly approved HB 40, to “Prevent Rioting and Civil Disorder.“ The bill will now be sent to the Governor’s desk for signature.

House Speaker Tim Moore said, “We simply must do a better job of protecting the public and our business owners and supporting our law enforcement officers who risk their lives every day to keep our communities safe. I am thankful that both the House and Senate have now approved this commonsense bill.”

He continued, “Particularly in light of the rampant increase in crime in our state and across the nation, I urge Governor Cooper to sign this commonsense bill into law without delay.”

Today legislative leaders filed a motion to intervene in Bryant v. Stein to defend the state’s pro-life laws following Attorney General Josh Stein’s refusal to represent the state. Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) and House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) released the following joint statement:

“North Carolina’s reasonable restrictions on chemical abortions are designed to protect women, plain and simple. However, the Attorney General has made it abundantly clear that when faced with the opportunity to uphold his oath or advance his political career, he will pick his career every time. Since Attorney General Stein won’t do the job he was elected to do, legislative leaders will intervene in this case to defend our state’s pro-life laws.”

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This week NC House Speaker Tim Moore introduced House Joint Resolution 151, which proposes adding Congressional term limits to the U.S. Constitution. Additional sponsors are Representatives Lowery;  Fontenot, Chesser, and Moss.

House Speaker Tim Moore said, “I have long been an advocate for term limits for Congress. In fact, the majority of Americans support the additional measure of accountability for their elected leaders in Washington.”

He continued, “Term limits would benefit both Congress and the rest of the country by paving the way for more competitive elections. We need to shift power from special interests back to the people, where it belongs, and term limits would do just that.”

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In a bipartisan vote, today the North Carolina overwhelmingly approved HB 40, to “Prevent Rioting and Civil Disorder” in a vote of 76-42.

House Speaker Tim Moore said, “This common-sense bill increases penalties for inciting deadly and dangerous riots to deter bad actors in otherwise peaceful protests. Our first amendment right to free speech is not an endorsement of violence, looting, or causing bodily harm to another person.”

He continued, “We must do a better job of supporting our law enforcement officers who risk their lives every day to keep us safe. It’s time to take a stand for the rule of law and the safety of our neighbors and business owners.”

Today NC House Speaker Tim Moore reintroduced HB 40, to “Prevent Rioting and Civil Disorder,” with primary sponsors Rep. Shelly Willingham, Rep. John Sauls, and Rep. Charles Miller.

House Speaker Tim Moore said, “I am excited to once again introduce HB 40, and I’m honored that my colleagues have joined me as sponsors of this important piece of legislation.”

He continued, “This common-sense bill simply enforces harsher penalties for the perpetrators of violence and looting, while also preserving every North Carolinian’s right to protest peacefully.”

Today attorneys for the North Carolina General Assembly asked the NC Supreme Court to correct errors made by the previous activist court in the Harper v. Hall and Holmes v. Moore cases.

Attorneys filed petitions for rehearing in the voter ID and redistricting cases in order to have them reconsidered by the newly-seated Supreme Court.

NC House Speaker Tim Moore said, “The people of North Carolina sent a message election day. They clearly rejected the judicial activism of the outgoing majority. I am committed to fighting for the rule of law and will of the voters. It’s time for voter ID to be law, as the people of North Carolina have demanded.”

Sam Hayes, General Counsel for NC House Speaker Tim Moore said, “Holmes was wrongly decided based on a predetermined outcome. We now have a chance to right this wrong and deliver on voter ID, which the voters of this state overwhelmingly support.”

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NC House Committees have been formed for the 2023 long session. The committees, chairs, and members of each committee are listed below.

House Speaker Tim Moore said, “As the long session gets underway, I look forward to working with this bipartisan group of leaders to ensure an even stronger North Carolina. We have a strong group of committee chairs this session, and I am confident that they will continue to propel our state forward and to the top of the pack.”

Committee Assignment by Committee Report

Agriculture

Chairs: Jimmy Dixon (Senior Chair), Jeffrey C. McNeely 

Vice Chairs: Karl E. Gillespie, Michael H. Wray 

Members: Eric Ager, Kelly M. Alexander, Jr., Jennifer Balkcom, John R. Bell, IV, William D. Brisson, Mark Brody, Kanika Brown, Tricia Ann Cotham, Jeffrey Elmore, Terence Everitt, Edward C. Goodwin, Kyle Hall, Chris Humphrey, B. Ray Jeffers, Keith Kidwell, Brandon Lofton, Jarrod Lowery, Nasif Majeed, Howard Penny, Jr., Robert T. Reives, II, Wayne Sasser, Larry C. Strickland, Sam Watford 

Alcoholic Beverage Control

Chairs: John R. Bradford, III, Grey Mills, Shelly Willingham 

Vice Chair: Ray Pickett 

Members: Kelly M. Alexander, Jr., John R. Bell, IV, Kanika Brown, Allison A. Dahle, Jon Hardister, Marvin W. Lucas, Erin Paré, Joseph Pike, Caleb Rudow, Jason Saine, David Willis, Matthew Winslow, Michael H. Wray 

Appropriations

Chairs: Dean Arp (Senior Chair), Donny Lambeth (Senior Chair), Jason Saine (Senior Chair), William D. Brisson, Jeffrey Elmore, John Faircloth, Kyle Hall, Brenden H. Jones, Wayne Sasser, Larry C. Strickland 

Vice Chairs: Kristin Baker, M.D., George G. Cleveland, Ted Davis, Jr., Jimmy Dixon, Karl E. Gillespie, Edward C. Goodwin, Dudley Greene, Jon Hardister, Kelly E. Hastings, Frank Iler, Jake Johnson, Charles W. Miller, Larry W. Potts, Dennis Riddell, Phil Shepard, Carson Smith, John A. Torbett, Donna McDowell White, David Willis 

Members: Jay Adams, Eric Ager, Vernetta Alston, John Autry, Amber M. Baker, Cynthia Ball, Mary Belk, Brian Biggs, Hugh Blackwell, Cecil Brockman, Mark Brody, Gloristine Brown, Kanika Brown, Terry M. Brown Jr., Allen Buansi, Laura Budd, Celeste C. Cairns, Maria Cervania, Allen Chesser, Mike Clampitt, Sarah Crawford, Kevin Crutchfield, Carla D. Cunningham, Allison A. Dahle, Rosa U. Gill, Pricey Harrison, Zack Hawkins, Chris Humphrey, Frances Jackson, PhD, B. Ray Jeffers, Joe John, Abe Jones, Ya Liu, Donnie Loftis, Carolyn G. Logan, Marvin W. Lucas, Nasif Majeed, Jeffrey C. McNeely, Grey Mills, Marcia Morey, Ben T. Moss, Jr., Erin Paré, Howard Penny, Jr., Ray Pickett, Garland E. Pierce, Mark Pless, Lindsey Prather, Renée A. Price, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Amos L. Quick, III, Timothy Reeder, MD, Robert T. Reives, II, James Roberson, Caleb Rudow, Charles Smith, Frank Sossamon, Diamond Staton-Williams, RN, BSN, MHA, Sarah Stevens, Julie von Haefen, Bill Ward, Diane Wheatley, Shelly Willingham 

Appropriations, Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources

Chairs: Jimmy Dixon (Senior Chair), Karl E. Gillespie, Edward C. Goodwin 

Vice Chairs: Kyle Hall, Larry C. Strickland 

Members: Eric Ager, Mark Brody, Gloristine Brown, Celeste C. Cairns, Allison A. Dahle, Pricey Harrison, Chris Humphrey, B. Ray Jeffers, Jeffrey C. McNeely, Amos L. Quick, III, James Roberson 

Appropriations, Capital

Chair: Kelly E. Hastings 

Vice Chair: Dean Arp 

Members: Allen Chesser, Sarah Crawford, Frances Jackson, PhD, Ray Pickett, Diamond Staton-Williams, RN, BSN, MHA 

Appropriations, Education

Chairs: Jon Hardister, John A. Torbett, David Willis 

Vice Chair: Jeffrey Elmore 

Members: Hugh Blackwell, Cecil Brockman, Kevin Crutchfield, Rosa U. Gill, Zack Hawkins, Marvin W. Lucas, Lindsey Prather, Frank Sossamon, Diane Wheatley 

Appropriations, General Government

Chairs: George G. Cleveland, Dennis Riddell 

Vice Chair: William D. Brisson 

Members: Kanika Brown, Nasif Majeed, Howard Penny, Jr., Charles Smith, Julie von Haefen, Bill Ward 

Appropriations, Health and Human Services

Chairs: Kristin Baker, M.D., Larry W. Potts, Donna McDowell White 

Vice Chairs: Donny Lambeth, Erin Paré, Wayne Sasser 

Members: Cynthia Ball, William D. Brisson, Terry M. Brown Jr., Allen Buansi, Maria Cervania, Carla D. Cunningham, Ya Liu, Mark Pless, Timothy Reeder, MD 

Appropriations, Information Technology

Chair: Jake Johnson 

Vice Chairs: Kyle Hall, Jason Saine 

Members: John Autry, Brian Biggs, Laura Budd, Renée A. Price 

Appropriations, Justice and Public Safety

Chairs: Ted Davis, Jr., Dudley Greene, Charles W. Miller, Carson Smith 

Vice Chairs: Mike Clampitt, John Faircloth 

Members: Joe John, Abe Jones, Carolyn G. Logan, Marcia Morey, Garland E. Pierce, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Robert T. Reives, II, Sarah Stevens 

Appropriations, Transportation

Chairs: Frank Iler, Phil Shepard 

Vice Chair: Brenden H. Jones 

Members: Jay Adams, Vernetta Alston, Amber M. Baker, Mary Belk, Donnie Loftis, Carolyn G. Logan, Grey Mills, Ben T. Moss, Jr., Caleb Rudow, Shelly Willingham 

Banking

Chair: Matthew Winslow 

Vice Chair: Becky Carney 

Members: Jennifer Balkcom, Deb Butler, Celeste C. Cairns, Terence Everitt, Julia C. Howard, Neal Jackson, Jake Johnson, Keith Kidwell, Ya Liu, Nasif Majeed, Steve Tyson, Jeff Zenger 

Commerce

Chairs: Stephen M. Ross, John Sauls 

Vice Chairs: Jake Johnson, Garland E. Pierce, Steve Tyson 

Members: Jay Adams, John Autry, Amber M. Baker, John R. Bradford, III, Kanika Brown, Deb Butler, Ashton Wheeler Clemmons, Sarah Crawford, Carla D. Cunningham, Terence Everitt, Kyle Hall, Julia C. Howard, Frank Iler, Brandon Lofton, Ben T. Moss, Jr., Joseph Pike, Timothy Reeder, MD, Jason Saine, Phil Shepard, Frank Sossamon, Larry C. Strickland, Matthew Winslow 

Disaster Recovery and Homeland Security

Chairs: John R. Bell, IV, Mark Pless 

Vice Chair: Brenden H. Jones 

Members: Eric Ager, Ted Davis, Jr., Karl E. Gillespie, Chris Humphrey, Tim Longest, Caleb Rudow, Diamond Staton-Williams, RN, BSN, MHA 

Education – Community Colleges

Chair: David Willis 

Vice Chair: Diane Wheatley 

Members: Jay Adams, Hugh Blackwell, John R. Bradford, III, Mark Brody, Gloristine Brown, Mike Clampitt, Ashton Wheeler Clemmons, Jeffrey Elmore, Joe John, Tim Longest, Howard Penny, Jr., Lindsey Prather, Renée A. Price, John Sauls, Steve Tyson, Donna McDowell White 

Education – K-12

Chairs: Hugh Blackwell, Tricia Ann Cotham, John A. Torbett 

Vice Chairs: Cecil Brockman, Diane Wheatley, David Willis 

Members: Cynthia Ball, Brian Biggs, Laura Budd, Ashton Wheeler Clemmons, Jeffrey Elmore, Ken Fontenot, Rosa U. Gill, Frank Iler, Jake Johnson, Donny Lambeth, Brandon Lofton, Marvin W. Lucas, Larry W. Potts, Dennis Riddell, James Roberson, Phil Shepard, Frank Sossamon, Larry C. Strickland, Julie von Haefen 

Education – Universities

Chairs: Jon Hardister, Ray Pickett 

Vice Chair: Kelly E. Hastings 

Members: Kelly M. Alexander, Jr., Kristin Baker, M.D., Gloristine Brown, Allen Buansi, Becky Carney, Kevin Crutchfield, Ted Davis, Jr., Wesley Harris, PhD, Julia C. Howard, Neal Jackson, Donny Lambeth, Marcia Morey, Lindsey Prather, Timothy Reeder, MD 

Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform

Chair: Grey Mills 

Vice Chairs: Allison A. Dahle, Harry Warren 

Members: Amber M. Baker, Kristin Baker, M.D., Cynthia Ball, Brian Biggs, Hugh Blackwell, Allen Buansi, Tricia Ann Cotham, Ted Davis, Jr., Jimmy Dixon, John Faircloth, Pricey Harrison, Frank Iler, Joe John, Dennis Riddell, Bill Ward, Shelly Willingham, David Willis, Jeff Zenger 

Energy and Public Utilities

Chairs: Dean Arp, Kyle Hall, Matthew Winslow 

Vice Chairs: Brenden H. Jones, Charles W. Miller, Erin Paré 

Members: Kelly M. Alexander, Jr., John R. Bell, IV, William D. Brisson, Cecil Brockman, Terry M. Brown Jr., Celeste C. Cairns, Becky Carney, Maria Cervania, Tricia Ann Cotham, Sarah Crawford, Carla D. Cunningham, Jimmy Dixon, Destin Hall, Pricey Harrison, Kelly E. Hastings, Zack Hawkins, Julia C. Howard, Grey Mills, Garland E. Pierce, Dennis Riddell, Jason Saine, John Sauls, Mitchell S. Setzer, Larry C. Strickland, Sam Watford, Michael H. Wray, Jeff Zenger 

Environment

Chairs: Karl E. Gillespie, Frank Iler 

Vice Chairs: Ted Davis, Jr., Pricey Harrison 

Members: Kelly M. Alexander, Jr., Vernetta Alston, John Autry, Mary Belk, Cecil Brockman, Jimmy Dixon, Edward C. Goodwin, Kyle Hall, Keith Kidwell, Jeffrey C. McNeely, Howard Penny, Jr., Ray Pickett, Amos L. Quick, III, Diamond Staton-Williams, RN, BSN, MHA, Diane Wheatley, Donna McDowell White 

Ethics

Chairs: John Sauls, Michael H. Wray 

Vice Chair: Mitchell S. Setzer 

Members: Becky Carney, Tricia Ann Cotham, Allison A. Dahle, Ted Davis, Jr., Jason Saine 

Families Children and Aging Policy

Chair: Mike Clampitt 

Members: Kristin Baker, M.D., Sarah Crawford, Dudley Greene, Ya Liu, Jarrod Lowery, Marcia Morey, Garland E. Pierce, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Timothy Reeder, MD, Wayne Sasser, Charles Smith, Donna McDowell White 

Federal Relations and American Indian Affairs

Chair: Mike Clampitt 

Vice Chairs: Karl E. Gillespie, Mark Pless 

Members: Vernetta Alston, Kelly E. Hastings, Brenden H. Jones, Jarrod Lowery, Dennis Riddell, Diamond Staton-Williams, RN, BSN, MHA, Shelly Willingham 

Finance

Chairs: John R. Bradford, III (Senior Chair), Keith Kidwell (Senior Chair), Mitchell S. Setzer (Senior Chair), Michael H. Wray (Senior Chair), Julia C. Howard, Stephen M. Ross, Steve Tyson 

Vice Chairs: Harry Warren, Jeff Zenger 

Members: Kelly M. Alexander, Jr., Jennifer Balkcom, John R. Bell, IV, Deb Butler, Becky Carney, Ashton Wheeler Clemmons, Tricia Ann Cotham, Terence Everitt, Ken Fontenot, Destin Hall, Wesley Harris, PhD, Neal Jackson, Brandon Lofton, Tim Longest, Jarrod Lowery, Joseph Pike, John Sauls, Sam Watford, Matthew Winslow 

Health

Chairs: Larry W. Potts (Senior Chair), Kristin Baker, M.D., Donny Lambeth, Erin Paré, Wayne Sasser, Donna McDowell White 

Vice Chairs: Tricia Ann Cotham, Carla D. Cunningham 

Members: Cynthia Ball, Mary Belk, Hugh Blackwell, William D. Brisson, Cecil Brockman, Allen Buansi, Becky Carney, Maria Cervania, Allen Chesser, Kevin Crutchfield, Jimmy Dixon, Ken Fontenot, Julia C. Howard, Chris Humphrey, Ya Liu, Donnie Loftis, Marvin W. Lucas, Garland E. Pierce, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Timothy Reeder, MD, Mitchell S. Setzer, Phil Shepard, Steve Tyson, Sam Watford, Diane Wheatley, Michael H. Wray 

Insurance

Chairs: Chris Humphrey, Mitchell S. Setzer 

Vice Chairs: Marvin W. Lucas, Wayne Sasser, Shelly Willingham 

Members: Kristin Baker, M.D., John R. Bradford, III, Terry M. Brown Jr., Allen Chesser, George G. Cleveland, Rosa U. Gill, Kyle Hall, Julia C. Howard, Donny Lambeth, Nasif Majeed, Garland E. Pierce, Larry W. Potts, James Roberson, Steve Tyson, Harry Warren, Michael H. Wray 

Judiciary 1

Chair: Ted Davis, Jr. 

Vice Chair: Grey Mills 

Members: John R. Bradford, III, Tricia Ann Cotham, Rosa U. Gill, Jon Hardister, Pricey Harrison, Abe Jones, Larry W. Potts, Jason Saine 

Judiciary 2

Chair: Sarah Stevens 

Vice Chair: Charles W. Miller 

Members: Vernetta Alston, Laura Budd, Dudley Greene, Marcia Morey, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Robert T. Reives, II, Carson Smith, David Willis 

Judiciary 3

Chair: Hugh Blackwell 

Vice Chair: Bill Ward 

Members: Terry M. Brown Jr., Terence Everitt, John Faircloth, Wesley Harris, PhD, Julia C. Howard, Joe John, Keith Kidwell, Jeff Zenger 

Local Government

Chairs: Howard Penny, Jr., Sam Watford 

Members: John Autry, John Faircloth, Frances Jackson, PhD, B. Ray Jeffers, Donnie Loftis, Brandon Lofton, Charles W. Miller, Ben T. Moss, Jr., Ray Pickett, Lindsey Prather, Wayne Sasser, Mitchell S. Setzer, Julie von Haefen, Donna McDowell White 

Local Government – Land Use Planning and Development

Chair: Mark Brody

Members: Jay Adams, Jennifer Balkcom, Cynthia Ball, Gloristine Brown, Kevin Crutchfield, Allison A. Dahle, Ben T. Moss, Jr., Renée A. Price, Caleb Rudow, Sam Watford, Jeff Zenger 

Marine Resources and Aquaculture

Chair: George G. Cleveland

Vice Chair: Celeste C. Cairns 

Members: Edward C. Goodwin, Wesley Harris, PhD, Pricey Harrison, Zack Hawkins, Frank Iler, Keith Kidwell, Tim Longest, Charles W. Miller, Harry Warren 

Military and Veterans Affairs

Chairs: Edward C. Goodwin, Donnie Loftis 

Vice Chairs: George G. Cleveland, Nasif Majeed 

Members: Dean Arp, John Autry, Celeste C. Cairns, Allen Chesser, Ken Fontenot, Frances Jackson, PhD, Carolyn G. Logan, Erin Paré, Garland E. Pierce, Larry W. Potts, Charles Smith, Julie von Haefen 

Oversight Reform

Chairs: Jake Johnson, Harry Warren 

Members: Dean Arp, Maria Cervania, Allen Chesser, George G. Cleveland, Allison A. Dahle, Jeffrey C. McNeely, Amos L. Quick, III, Sarah Stevens, Shelly Willingham 

Pensions and Retirement

Chairs: Carson Smith, Diane Wheatley 

Vice Chair: Rosa U. Gill 

Members: Mark Brody, Jeffrey Elmore, Donny Lambeth, Joseph Pike, Amos L. Quick, III, James Roberson, Stephen M. Ross 

Redistricting

Chair: Destin Hall 

Vice Chairs: Jason Saine, John A. Torbett 

Members: Cecil Brockman, Becky Carney, Jimmy Dixon, Ken Fontenot, Jon Hardister, Pricey Harrison, Kelly E. Hastings, Zack Hawkins, Abe Jones, Brenden H. Jones, Jarrod Lowery, Grey Mills, Robert T. Reives, II, Sarah Stevens, Harry Warren 

Regulatory Reform

Chairs: Dennis Riddell, Jeff Zenger 

Members: Eric Ager, Amber M. Baker, Mary Belk, Brian Biggs, Hugh Blackwell, John R. Bradford, III, Mark Brody, Terry M. Brown Jr., Deb Butler, Mike Clampitt, Allison A. Dahle, Keith Kidwell, Erin Paré, Renée A. Price, Sarah Stevens 

Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

Chair: Destin Hall 

Vice Chairs: Kelly E. Hastings, Brenden H. Jones, John A. Torbett 

Members: John R. Bell, IV, William D. Brisson, Becky Carney, Ashton Wheeler Clemmons, Tricia Ann Cotham, Carla D. Cunningham, Allison A. Dahle, Ted Davis, Jr., Jimmy Dixon, Kyle Hall, Jon Hardister, Neal Jackson, Grey Mills, Erin Paré, Amos L. Quick, III, Robert T. Reives, II, Jason Saine, Steve Tyson, Shelly Willingham, Michael H. Wray 

State Government

Chair: Harry Warren 

Members: Jennifer Balkcom, Dudley Greene, Frances Jackson, PhD, B. Ray Jeffers, Joseph Pike, Stephen M. Ross, Charles Smith, John A. Torbett, Bill Ward 

State Personnel

Chair: A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr. 

Vice Chair: Dudley Greene 

Members: Amber M. Baker, Edward C. Goodwin, Neal Jackson, Carolyn G. Logan, Bill Ward, Shelly Willingham 

Transportation

Chairs: Brenden H. Jones, Jeffrey C. McNeely, Phil Shepard, Steve Tyson 

Vice Chairs: Jay Adams, George G. Cleveland, Frank Iler, Ben T. Moss, Jr. 

Members: Vernetta Alston, Dean Arp, Mary Belk, Brian Biggs, Deb Butler, Becky Carney, John Faircloth, Edward C. Goodwin, Wesley Harris, PhD, Zack Hawkins, Joe John, Donnie Loftis, Carolyn G. Logan, Charles W. Miller, Marcia Morey, Ray Pickett, Mark Pless, James Roberson, Stephen M. Ross, Frank Sossamon, Harry Warren, Matthew Winslow 

UNC Board of Governors Nominations

Chair: Kelly E. Hastings 

Vice Chairs: Ted Davis, Jr., Jon Hardister 

Members: Amber M. Baker, Laura Budd, Abe Jones, Donny Lambeth, Nasif Majeed, Ray Pickett, Mitchell S. Setzer, Diamond Staton-Williams, RN, BSN, MHA, John A. Torbett 

Unemployment Insurance

Chair: Julia C. Howard 

Members: Terry M. Brown Jr., Deb Butler, Destin Hall, Tim Longest, Mitchell S. Setzer, Harry Warren 

Wildlife Resources

Chairs: Jay Adams, Ben T. Moss, Jr. 

Vice Chairs: Mike Clampitt, Karl E. Gillespie 

Members: William D. Brisson, Carla D. Cunningham, Jake Johnson, Abe Jones, Brandon Lofton, Marvin W. Lucas, Mark Pless, Caleb Rudow, Carson Smith, Michael H. Wray 

Today the lame duck North Carolina Supreme Court issued a decision affirming a previous trial court ruling that struck down North Carolina’s Voter ID law.

NC House Speaker Tim Moore said, “The lame duck Supreme Court of North Carolina has issued yet another opinion that defies the will of the majority of North Carolinians who voted for the implementation of a photo ID requirement.”

He continued, “North Carolina voters have had enough of the disdain this court has for them and the rule of law. Thankfully, the 2022 election was a complete repudiation of this kind of judicial activism on the appellate courts. Instead of learning their lesson in the wake of defeat, the outgoing lame duck liberal majority has, once again, defied the will of the voters and rejected voter ID.”