Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The bill passed by a vote of 402 to 17:

"Nearly 18 years ago, with the enactment of the ADA, this nation committed to removing barriers that had too long denied Americans with disabilities full and equal access to all aspects of American society - in our businesses, schools, communities, and government.

Since that time, the ADA has played a vital role in transforming society's attitudes toward individuals with disabilities and has advanced our nation's fundamental calling to respect each individual.

The ADA's promise remains unfulfilled because of court rulings that wrongly ignored the intent of Congress. Courts have narrowed the definition of 'disability' to preclude those individuals who undertake mitigating measures such as hearing aids or medications.

Today, Congress is restoring the law's intent and its broad protections. By strengthening the ADA, we bring our nation closer to the ideals of equality and opportunity that are both our heritage and our hope."

That's what Robin Hayes said. Doesn't it make you see red? He told the Montgomery County Superintendent of Schools"You need me more than I need you."

Really, it is documented in two Montgomery Herald articles.

Hayes challenging " You need me more than I need you!" to a Montgomery County Superintendent , was a Robin Hayes most of us had never seen. It exposed him as the politician, much like when he switched his vote, not once but twice to help President Bush pass a bill that hurt workers in the 8th district by just one vote. This was the Robin Hayes who inspired high school teacher Larry Kissell to run for Congress in the first place.

Why bring this up? Yesterday Hayes visited Montgomery County to discuss education (before heading to a country club to raise money for his campaign) . Apparently, he found out that maybe he does need the people of Montgomery County now that he is down in the polls. For too long he has played politics rather than help prevent the problems the community faces.

Remember, it goes far beyond his hypocrisy on education issues. Only two other Members out of the entire House and Senate have more stock in companies making money off the war in Iraq than Robin Hayes. We all know he is consistently listed as one of the wealthiest Members of either the House or Senate, but his investment in the war is really shocking.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean today issued the following statement in commemoration of Memorial Day:

"This weekend we honor the brave men and women who have defended our country and those who have lost their lives on the battlefield. They deserve the very best in return, which is why the Democratic Congress passed the bi-partisan 21st Century GI bill to help them pay for college when they come home. We believe that if someone is willing to put on the uniform for the United States of America, we should do everything we can to help them and ensure their success when they come home. I'm proud that both of our Democratic candidates for president took time off from the campaign trail to vote in support of this important legislation. The last thing Americans want is another president who will short-change our veterans."

Tonight, John McCain will attend a fundraiser for his presidential campaign in Michigan. According to the invitation, he will be joined by the chair of his Michigan Victory 08 committee, John Rakolta, Jr., and McCain Michigan co-chairman Robert Liggett. What the invitation does not say, however, is that Rakolta and Liggett were two of the key backers of an organization that helped finance an ad that compared Democrats to Adolf Hitler in the 2006 election. Rakolta and his wife contributed $10,000 to a group called Voice the Vote, which used the money to buy a newspaper ad that compared Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and a procession of Democratic presidents to Hitler.

By Marjory Holder

I didn’t start life as a Democrat. Instead, I followed my parents very much like any young elephant.

Three things happened to change that.

The first happened in 1968 at a meeting of the Young Republicans where a good friend of mine suggested we raid the local Democratic headquarters and steal a pile of their election material to throw it away. I don’t know if the others went ahead with the plan, but I refused, and that was the end of the active phase of my membership in the GOP.

I did, however, continue to vote Republican for a while.

For one thing, fiscal responsibility has always appealed to me. I keep my own checkbook balanced and I think the federal government should, too.

We launched our first national television ad of the presidential election cycle, highlighting how little John McCain understands the economy. Watch it:

The North Carolina Democratic Party pauses today to mark the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. King was murdered at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead sanitation workers on a protest against low wages and unsafe working conditions.

This grim anniversary comes at a time when Democrats are poised to elect the nation’s first African-American or female President.

We carry the embers of Dr. King’s unfinished work as Democrats have successfully worked to increase state and federal minimum wage rates.

The Democratic Women of Wake County will hold their 38th annual Jefferson-Jackson Breakfast on April 26.

The State Party has changed the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner to May 2 to accommodate unprecedented turnout.