North Carolina legislature approves limits on politics, race discussion in state workplaces

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The promotion of certain beliefs that some North Carolina lawmakers have likened to “critical race theory" is on track to be banned in state government workplaces, under a bill that received final legislative approval on Tuesday. Roy Cooper, who hasn't indicated whether he will sign it but has spoken in the past about his dedication to keeping North Carolina off the front lines of “culture wars that hurt people and cost us jobs.” Cooper may not have much of a say if he opposes it: Republicans have had veto-proof majorities in both chambers since a Democratic state lawmaker switched parties two months ago. Other restricted concepts include that the United States was created for the purpose of oppressing members of another race or sex and that the government is “inherently racist.” Republicans earlier this year applauded the same list of restrictions, which also appears in an education bill passed by the state House, for “banning” critical race theory, a complex academic and legal framework centered on the idea that racism is embedded in the nation’s institutions, which perpetuate inequality. Democratic Sen. Lisa Grafstein said she believes Cooper should veto the measure, which she called “kind of a culture war reaction not based in any actual concerns that have been expressed by state employees.” The Wake County Democrat pointed to implicit bias trainings now offered to state employees that “actually help people become better workers, better managers, better hiring authorities.” She and other Democrats have raised concerns that the bill could threaten productive workplace discussions about diversity, equity and inclusion.