Democrats point to economic impact as Robinson says GOP was ‘right about HB2’

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – Democrats on Monday pushed back on Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson saying Republicans “were right about HB2,” pointing to the economic impact on the state when the so-called bathroom bill was in effect.

CBS 17 first reported on comments Robinson made late last month at a private lunch hosted by RNC Committeeman Ed Broyhill, who recorded and posted Robinson’s remarks on YouTube. After CBS 17 asked about the video, it was made private.

“I’m not willing to let our state relive this whole nightmare of HB2. I was there,” said House Democratic Leader Rep. Robert Reives. “As someone who was serving in Raleigh, I can tell you unequivocally he was wrong. He’s wrong about that.”

Robinson is running for governor this year against state Atty. Gen. Josh Stein (D).

The lieutenant governor made the comments on HB2 as he sought to draw a contrast with Democrats in terms of what issues the two parties would focus on this year, including efforts by Republicans in the legislature to grow the state’s economy and cut taxes.

“We were right about HB2. We told them. You start letting these men go in these bathrooms, the next thing you know. What’s the next step after that? That’s exactly what we said. What’s the next step after that? Guess what the next step was: your daughter losing her scholarship to a biological man in swimming, volleyball, basketball,” Robinson said. “We were right on HB2 and continue to be right on it. The ideas that the left has is a bunch of foolishness. We don’t need to be ashamed to say it.”

The law required people to use the bathroom that corresponded to their sex at birth and blocked municipalities from passing non-discrimination ordinances.

In its analysis, the Associated Press estimated in 2017 that the law cost the state more than $3.76 billion over 12 years in lost business as some major events were moved out of the state and some companies chose to cancel plans to expand in North Carolina.

Susan Sawin, a Democrat who is running for a seat in the North Carolina House of Representatives and owns independent bookstores, said, “HB2 killed jobs, drove businesses away and kept people from coming to North Carolina.”

More recently, Republicans in the General Assembly have passed legislation banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports and barring medical professionals from providing gender-affirming care to minors.

“There is very, very little, bordering on no support for bringing House Bill 2 back. It is generally looked at as a stain on the economy of North Carolina if nothing else,” said Chris Cooper, an expert on state politics at Western Carolina University.

He continued, “The things that marked House Bill 2 are very, very unpopular today, the so-called bathroom bill. People are not for that. You ask people questions about trans athletes in sports, however, you ask people questions about what kids are taught in primary school, that’s where you start to see a lot more division.”

Robinson campaign spokesperson Mike Lonergan said, “Radical leftists like Joe Biden and Josh Stein want to force women and girls to share restrooms and locker rooms with men. That’s dangerous and extreme. As governor, Mark Robinson will not allow that to happen. It’s just common sense.”