http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/auditor_commission_bill_passes_hurdle Comments for "Auditor, commission bill passes hurdle" en http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/auditor_commission_bill_passes_hurdle#comment-8072 <p>This is one of those reactionary bills that keep changing our state government. Just b/c the state auditor is GOP, they want to strip him of powers. Just like they stripped the Lt. Gov. of power when he was a Republican, just like they stripped the state superintendent when...do we see a pattern? Y'know...eventually, we'll get some Democrats elected to these spots, and they'll probably want to do their jobs!!</p> <p>Les will be out of there in a few months anyway, leave the man alone...</p> Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:14:36 -0400 captsfufp comment 8072 at http://projects.newsobserver.com http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/auditor_commission_bill_passes_hurdle <!-- Begin check for Blog Icon --> <!-- End check for Blog Icon --> <!-- Begin check for Teaser Toggle --> <div class="field-item"><p>A bill that would prohibit the state auditor from investigating violations of the state ethics act passed a key Senate committee Monday afternoon.</p><p>The bill would require the state auditor to turn over possible violations of the ethics act to the <a href="http://www.ethicscommission.nc.gov/">N.C. State Ethics Commission</a>. The ethics act deals with possible conflicts of interest involving officials and their duties.</p><p>A similar bill in the House is scheduled for a committee Tuesday.</p><p>Lawmakers took up the change after State Auditor <a href="/profiles/les_merritt">Les Merritt</a> began <a href="/under_the_dome/merritt_releases_report_on_nesbitt">investigating</a> a senator over his son&#39;s business dealings. The N.C. State Ethics Commission sees no problem in the case. Merritt disagrees.</p><p>In a news release, Merritt said Monday that two eyes are better than one.</p><p>&quot;I believe that this legislation is unnecessary because two watchdogs, the State Auditor and the Ethics Commission are better than one when it comes to uncovering abuses in state government,&quot; Merritt said in the release.</p><p>The problem with two eyes, ethics commission officials have said, is that in the ethics law is complex and in the case of a disagreement, officials would be unsure what to do.</p><p>The bill would also require the auditor to refer potential criminal matters over to law enforcement and possible election law violations to elections officials. That would leave waste and fraud as the auditor&#39;s main areas of responsibility.</p><p>The senate bill is 1875. The house version is 2544. </p></div> <div class="node-blog-teaser-footer"> <div class="node-blog-teaser-comments"><a href="http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/auditor_commission_bill_passes_hurdle#comment"><img src="http://www.newsobserver.com/images/front_new/icon_discussion.gif" width="11" height="7" border="0" /> Comments (1)</a> <!-- If permissions, display edit link at end of teaser --> <!-- End edit link code --> </div> </div> <!-- End check for Teaser Toggle --> <!-- BEGIN AUDIO ATTACHMENT CODE --> http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/auditor_commission_bill_passes_hurdle#comment Les Merritt state auditor State Ethics Commission Under the Dome Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:58:01 -0400 bniolet 8092 at http://projects.newsobserver.com