Jo Nicholas, president of the League of Women Voters of North Carolina and Moore County, was at the Governor's Mansion last week when Gov. Beverly Perdue stamped a veto on the voter photo identification bill.

In a memo to local league board members, Nicholas says she "stood right behind her shoulder and later talked to her personally" after the veto.

The league is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that supports good government and voter education issues. It does not endorse candidates or political parties but does take a stand on issues relating to voting, education and fair government practices.

RALLY - However, the real purpose of the league president's memo was to encourage attendance at a "Respect Our Vote" rally planned for Wednesday, July 13, from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at the legislative building in Raleigh.

The rally is being organized by several voter coalitions, including Democracy NC.

July 13 is the date when the N.C. General Assembly will convene to handle a few routine matters, including likely override votes on several vetoes by the governor.

The bill would require all voters to show official identification, including a photograph, before entering the polling booth. Other bills opposed by voter rights groups would shorten the early voting period and eliminate same day registration-voting.

REDISTRICTING - The Joint House and Senate Redistricting Committee is conducting a series of hearings Thursday from 3 until 9 p.m.

The hearings closest to Moore County will be held at Fayetteville Technical Community College, Cumberland Hall Room 308, 2201 Hull Road, Fayetteville, and at the N.C. Museum of History, first floor auditorium, 5 East Edenton St., Raleigh.

More information is available on the legislative website, www.ncga.state.nc.us.

LIBYA - Congressman Howard Coble followed up on his objections to the United States' presence in the civil war in Libya by voting for a bill to eliminate funding for Libyan military action.

He also voted against a resolution that would have authorized an additional year of U.S. involvement in Libya.

"I voted to cut off funding because we are now playing war games," Coble said. "We are in Iraq, we are in Afghanistan, and our presence in Libya could, at least, leave that door ajar, which would lead to millions and millions of more dollars being spent while seeing more troops coming home in body bags or permanently disabled. I think it is time to call our troops home."

In mid-June Coble joined nine other House members in a lawsuit charging that President Obama ordered military action in Libya without first seeking congressional approval. The 6th District congressman said Obama acted in violation of the War Powers Act.

PLANNING -- The Moore County Planning Board will resume consideration of a conditional use permit request at its July 7 regular meeting.

The request by Pedro Arredondo and Marie Nieves was first heard at the June board meeting, when board members agreed to table the matter until the next meeting.

The quasi-judicial public hearing will be resumed at the Thursday meeting, to begin at 6 p.m. in the historic courthouse in Carthage. The petitioners have asked the county for the permit to allow the use of automotive service as a home occupation of an industrial or commercial nature on a three-acre tract on Kyle Lane, near Carthage.

VAD - The Voluntary Agricultural District Advisory Board will meet today (Wednesday) at 1 p.m. in the conference room in the Moore County Agriculture Center in Carthage.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at florence@thepilot.com.