Small Government Republicans Are Retaliating in a Big Way to Bathroom Bill Debacle

HB 2 is over but the North Carolina Republicans are in a full on hot, steamy affair with government overreach. The party of small government is completely unrecognizable. It hasnt just gotten a facelift. This is a complete, identity changing, unrecognizable makeover that has implications beyond bathrooms.

Now, the small government, liberty minded patriots of my great home state are flexing their new big government muscles in what used to be a sacred place: The activities of private business.

HB 728 is a new bill that will punish businesses and individuals that choose to boycott the state of North Carolina in direct retaliation to the Atlantic Coast Conference moving the basketball championship out of the state and a whole host of musicians (like Bruce Springsteen) from canceling NC tour stops. The bill specifically threatens the ACC with pulling UNC and NC State from the conference.

Yes, thats right. The law would literally prohibit UNC and NC State from entering media rights contracts with the conference of their choice.

With serious faces and an I know whats good for you attitude the NC GOP is threatening a private entity for choosing where it wants to do business. The nanny state is clearly here and it is steadily creeping beyond the socially conservative issues that are usually explained away by religion, tradition, heritage or another confusingly vague code word for discrimination.

After the Republicans were so beside themselves when artists canceled shows upon passage of HB 2, Im bracing myself for what is next. Will Senator Berger come knocking on my door to collect all my Bruce Springsteen records? Will they pass a law revoking The Boss of his title? I KNOW hes from New Jersey, but dont do it to him. WE LIKE him.

The irony is apparently lost on NC Republicans, and it has been for a while. This entire past year they became hell-bent on basically getting up in that stall with you to make sure youre using the bathroom they think you should. You know, for safety reasons.

To all the private businesses out there: You are no longer safe to do what you want.

Good thing Rep. Mark Brody of Union County came to clear it all up, or something. Were taking this seriously and were not going to sit back idly and let them do whatever they want to North Carolina, he said, not realizing he sounds like a 5th grader rallying his friends to confront a schoolyard bully.

I dont want my government writing into law a take your ball and go home clause. Thats exactly what HB 728 is: A textbook lesson in threatening to throw a temper tantrum if you dont get it your way. From a private business. That can do whatever it wants. And thats, like, supposed to be your thing, guys. Are you feeling okay?

The Republicans are literally willing to point and shoot their straw purchased guns at their own feet. Make no mistake, NC State and UNC not being in the Atlantic Coast Conference is BAD for North Carolina business. But they dont care about that anymore. This is bigger than the health of the States economy. RIGHT? Or well, smaller. Well, its different OKAY?

I kind of want the old Republicans back. Really. Go do something Republican like cutting someones taxes but stop coming after private businesses for not agreeing with your insane social policies. And, SERIOUSLY Senator Berger, get out of my Springsteen CD collection.

Jon Hebert is a writer and activist in education reform. Hes a proud UNC graduate from Chapel Hill he really, really wants to stay in the ACC. @jonphebert