Under the Dome blog

Price: It's more than a military decision

bkrueger — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:10:41 -0500

As President Barack Obama continues to ponder the future of American troops in Afghanistan, U.S. Rep. David Price stressed this week that the matter isn’t just one for the military.

"Nobody thinks this should be a rushed decision – or a decision that should just be about the military,” Price said. “We have to be aware of the security requirements to back up national policy – not military action for its own sake.”

Price, a Chapel Hill Democrat, returned Monday from a week-long swing through the Middle East, reports Barb Barrett. While there, he spent three days in Afghanistan meeting with troops, generals and Afghan government officials.

Price said in an interview he doesn’t expect to brief the White House on the visit, but he did speak with the State Department before the trip, and he stressed afterward that Obama shouldn’t rush into a decision on Afghanistan.

"He should take the time and consideration he needs to to make the decision in a careful and responsible way,” Price said.

Money request rankles lobbyists

bkrueger — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:37:18 -0500

There has been some grumbling among lobbyists who through it was inappropriate that they received a campaign solicitation from Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, whose office regulates lobbyists.

Marshall, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate race next year, sent out an e-mail solicitation on her birthday (Nov. 18) asking for an $18 campaign donation to mark the occasion, reports Rob Christensen.

"We didn't intentionally put any lobbyists on the list," said Thomas Mills, Marshall's campaign manager. "If they got a solicitation it is because they had some sort of relationship with Secretary Marshall in the past. We would be glad to remove their names."

Mills said the solicitation went out to a broad range of people, including people who had contributed to her past campaigns, friends and others. He said people can easily unsubscribe from Marshall's e-mail list.

The search is off

markjohnson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:00:24 -0500

Local school districts no longer have to hunt for former students who left school without diplomas to offer them the chance at the credential.

Former students who did not graduate because they failed state competency or computer skills tests are now eligible for diplomas if they earned enough credits, Lynn Bonner reports. After some questions about its initial instructions, the state education agency has made it easier for schools and students to comply with the new rule.

The state Department of Public Instruction has dialed back the aggressive searches for former students it wanted local districts to conduct. Districts no longer have to write letters to students who left school as long ago as 1981, telling them they may qualify. Former students will no longer have to dig around for their old transcripts to show school personnel. Certificates of achievement will be good enough, along with identification.

SEANC wants watchdogs with teeth

markjohnson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:46:13 -0500

Recent overpayments to hospitals by the state health plan are more evidence of the need to put the plan under new management, said the State Employees Association of North Carolina.

A preliminary audit last week showed six hospitals owe the state $2.5 million for overcharges.

"Overpayments in those amounts are noticeable to state employees, teachers and retirees who saw their out-of-pocket costs increase by $600 with the passage of (legislation this year) that required zero cost concessions from" Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, which administers the plan, wrote Dana Cope, SEANC's executive director, in a recent letter to House Speaker Joe Hackney. (Click below to see the whole letter.)

SEANC wants the plan moved from under the legislature's control to the executive branch of government, arguing that the legislators tasked with keeping an eye on the plan have failed to protect the interests of the state employees who use it.

The association also blamed Blue Cross Blue Shield, saying their contract gives them no incentive to cut their own costs.

Document(s):
SEANCletter.pdf

Basnight to Navy: Save your money

bkrueger — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:59:58 -0500

N.C. Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight told the state’s congressional delegation today that North Carolina doesn’t need any more study about a Navy outlying landing field.

The Navy, he wrote, can save its money.

“I am pleased to inform you that these studies and their significant costs are not needed. The people of northeastern North Carolina DO NOT wish to have an outlying landing field constructed in their community,” Basnight wrote in a letter to the delegation, reports Barb Barrett.

The Navy is conducting an additional study of migratory bird flights this winter near Hale Lake in Camden County, one of five locations it wants to consider for an airstrip.
The landing field would serve a squadron of F/A-18 Super Hornet jets at a Navy base in Virginia.

Basnight, who represents Camden County, asked the delegation to stop the study.

Questions of tax fairness

bkrueger — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:35:26 -0500

Generally speaking, folks don't like taxes.

But North Carolinians seem divided on the question of tax fairness, according to a new poll by Elon University.

Almost half (48 percent) of North Carolina residents polled Nov. 16-19 say the current state tax system is either "not at all fair" or "not too fair." But 43 percent said they considered state taxes to be fair or "very fair."

Asked about local taxes, more than half (51 percent) said they consider them to be fair or "very fair." Less than half (42 percent) said local taxes are "not too fair" or "not at all fair."

As for the fairness of specific taxes, respondents overwhelmingly preferred alcohol taxes (24 percent consider them "not fair" or "not at all fair), retail sales tax (29 percent) and tobacco taxes (33 percent.)

The gas tax was considered "not fair" or "not at all fair" by 64 percent of those surveyed.

Elon surveyed 563 North Carolina residents, with a margin of error or plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.

Stay the course, whatever it is...

bkrueger — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:25:07 -0500

North Carolinians may not know much about how the state's judges are selected. But they know they don't want to change it.

A new poll of North Carolina residents by Elon University found that 90 percent of those surveyed were either not familiar or only "somewhat" familiar with how North Carolina judges are selected. Only 9 percent said they were "very familiar" with the process.

Yet the same survey found that 69 percent said they favor continuing the process of voters electing judges to their positions. Only 20 percent said they favor a change to have judges appointed.

Elon surveyed 563 North Carolina residents Nov. 16-19. The survey had a margin of error or plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.

Burr pans Democratic health bill

bkrueger — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:12:26 -0500

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr said on the Senate floor this morning that health reform should empower Americans to make healthier choices.

In a conversation ahead of a key Senate vote Saturday about health reform, Burr criticized the bill put forward by Democrats, reports Barb Barrett. He said it gives Americans a public option that allows patients “to be insured and be managed and be run by the federal government.”

“In North Carolina, it’s been overwhelmingly rejected by the population,” said Burr, a Winston-Salem Republican.

An Elon University poll released this month found that three of four North Carolina residents favor health reform, and 54 percent support a public option.

Neumann running for Senate

markjohnson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:49:04 -0500

Rep. Wil Neumann, a Belmont Republican, plans to run for the Gaston County senate seat currently held by Sen. David Hoyle, a Democrat who lives in Dallas.

The district is Republican, but Hoyle has managed to hold the seat because of his pro-business record and ties to the business community. Neumann said he has worked well with Hoyle for several years and called him a "very good friend."

Hoyle has not said whether he will run for a 10th term.

"I’m not looking at this as a challenge to David but as it’s time for a Republican to be in that seat," Neumann said. "The community has asked me to do this."

Neumann, 47, was first elected to the House in 2006. He owns two small businesses with partners, a renewable energy company and a contractor, but said lately he has been focused on helping Republicans reclaim a majority in the House and, now, the Senate.

Kathy Harrington, the Republican candidate for Hoyle's seat last year, has not announced whether she will run again.

Hagan helping with party cash

markjohnson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:13:15 -0500

On the day before a key Senate vote on health reform, U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan sent an email to Democratic party faithfuls asking for cash and reminding them of Republicans’ ways.

The e-mail (subject line: Yikes) began: “Imagine a battalion of right-wingers, tea partiers and ultraconservatives being elected and descending on Washington in January 2011.” It was sent through the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and urged readers to donate $5 or more to the committee, Barb Barrett reports.

In the e-mail, Hagan recalled her own challenges in last year’s election: “I know first-hand what it is like when the extreme right comes after you with vicious personal attacks,” Hagan wrote. “I have seen the way they make up lies to suit their agenda, having no qualms about sullying a person's good name with deceitful tactics.”

The committee contributed millions to Hagan’s quest last year to defeat then-Sen. Elizabeth Dole. And the DSCC could prove pivotal to whoever is the state’s Democratic nominee against incumbent Republican Sen. Richard Burr. The Senate is scheduled to take a key procedural vote Saturday on moving forward with debate on health reform.

Marshall pollster: Yes she can!

markjohnson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:14:34 -0500

With the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee trying to recruit former state Sen. Cal Cunningham into the race, Elaine Marshall has issued a poll memorandum arguing why she would be a strong opponent of Republican Sen. Richard Burr next year.

The memo by her pollster, Celinda Lake, notes that in every poll taken this year, Burr has failed to gain majority support, Rob Christensen reports.

"Burr's reelection numbers are among the lowest in the nation with just one-fifth of the voters (21 percent) indicating their plans to support his reelection," writes Lake. The memo argues that Marshall, the Secretary of State who has announced her candidacy, is as strong in the polls as Congressman Bob Etheridge, who the senatorial committee had tried to recruit into the race. Etheridge announced last week that he would not be a candidate for the Senate.

"In sum," writes Lake, "Senator Burr is vulnerable. Voters have a net-unfavorable impression of him and a strong plurality is ready to vote for someone else. Secretary Marshall is well-liked and a strong competitor against Burr. Her record of service and her fund raising capabilities makes her the Democrat to beat in the race."

The memo does not mention Cunningham, the former state senator and Iraqi war veteran from Lexington, who the committee is trying to recruit into the race.

Don't fence them out

markjohnson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:03:05 -0500

The N.C. Republican Party's top legislative leaders asked party officials not to block independents from voting in the Republican primary.

Republican candidates have to form a coalition with independents to win races in the state, wrote Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger, of Eden, House Republican Leader Paul Stam, of Apex, and the party's Joint Caucus Leader, Sen. Eddie Goodall, of Charlotte. The trio dispatched a memo Thursday to their party's executive committee explaining that independent votes are critical to winning a majority in the legislature next year. The executive committee is expected to vote on a closed primary tomorrow.

The legislative leaders highlighted a recent Civitas Institute poll that showed unaffiliated voters favor Republicans in legislative races.

"All of us know at least one Conservative Republican – and probably many more – that have switched to Unaffiliated out of frustration with the national or state Republican Party," the three lawmakers wrote. "Are we sending these Conservatives the right message and encouraging them to return to the Republican Party by telling them they cannot participate in a Republican Primary and can only participate in the Democratic Primary?"

Poll: GOP winning independents

markjohnson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:32:03 -0500

Voters are slightly more likely to vote for Republican legislative candidates, according to a recent poll.

The GOP has independents to thank, since they said they would vote Republican by a wide margin, according to the survey by Public Policy Polling.

Voters said they would vote Republican in state legislative races by 45 to 44 margin and by a 45 to 43 margin in congressional races. Republicans are faring well, despite the state's heavily Democratic registration, because independents are siding with the GOP and Republicans are more unified, PPP's Tom Jensen wrote.

Those results come one week after a Civitas Institute poll showed similar results.

The PPP poll surveyed 711 voters from Nov. 9 to 11 and has a margin of error of 3.7 percent.

Dome memo: Awkward relationships

bniolet — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:16:16 -0500

GOING CHILLY: Former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin didn't appreciate having to share a campaign bus with U.S. Sen. Richard Burr when she was stumping the state. Palin is scheduled to appear at Ft. Bragg next week to promote her book, which could make for an awkward moment if Burr shows to get a book signed.

POLITICAL PRENUP: Presidential candidate John Edwards offered to quit his campaign and endorse President Barack Obama in exchange for a guaranteed spot on the ticket. Hillary Clinton got the same offer. This reminds us of a time when Edwards' political value meant more than a cheap joke, such as this one.

LIGHTWEIGHT GOVERNOR: At a women's health conference, Gov. Bev Perdue shared stories about her days as a lawmaker when she would scarf a whole bag of Doritos. On a stage in front of a crowd, Perdue challenged her transportation secretary, Gene Conti, to slim down. Woe to any Perdue cabinet members who still smoke.

IN OTHER NEWS: Former Gov. Mike Easley's campaign manager appeared before a federal grand jury this week. Members of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission are heavy political contributors. An African American artist unveiled a portrait of U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms.

Prisoners, pavement and prosecutors

markjohnson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:13:50 -0500

NO GOOD TIMES: Gov. Bev Perdue says group of prisoners who could soon be released have to stay. (N&O)

TOLL FREE: Wake County wants to know why they have to pay tolls and Charlotte doesn't. (N&O)

COURTHOUSE ENVIRONMENT: A state environmental regulator was called to the courthouse in the probe of former Gov. Mike Easley. (AP)

Burr says 'no' to health care bill

markjohnson — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:46:30 -0500

Republican Sen. Richard Burr, long a critic of Democratic efforts to craft a health care overhaul, says he can not support the new Senate proposal.

Burr said the bill "is yet another attempt by Washington Democrats to take over our nation's health care system," Rob Christensen reports. He said it would cut Medicare benefits for seniors, increase taxes on small businesses, increase federal spending, and put "government bureaucrats between patients and their doctors."

He said the real cost of the bill over 10 years would be $2.5 trillion.

"This is not the kind of health reform I can support," Burr said said in statement. "It is certainly not the kind of health reform that the American people want. I oppose the bill, and I will work to see it does not become law. I agree we need health care reform, but this bill is not the answer."

UPDATE: Dollar amount corrected.

Boseman won't run

lbonner — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:03:31 -0500

Sen. Julia Boseman announced she will not run for reelection to the state Senate.

A Wilmington Democrat in her third term, Boseman is the state's first openly gay state legislator. Her decision not to run again leaves a swing-district seat without an incumbent.

In a statement, Boseman said her greatest accomplishment "was doing what I could to help the vulnerable: protecting victims of domestic violence, protecting our children from sexual predators, and protecting kids—all kids—from bullying."

Boseman was out front in the successful effort this year to recognize gay students as potential targets for school bullies in an anti-bullying law.

Boseman and her former domestic partner, Melissa Jarrell, were involved in a bitter break up and custody battle over their son that led to the state Appeals Court.

A three-judge panel in August upheld Boseman's 2005 adoption of Jarrell's son, entitling Boseman to joint custody.

Microsoft to offer NC free training

bniolet — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:32:32 -0500

Gov. Bev Perdue was in Charlotte this afternoon to announce a state partnership with Microsoft to offer free technology training.

The governor appeared on the campus of Central Piedmont Community College to announce that North Carolina will receive 10,500 vouchers for Microsoft Windows and Office online training, 10,500 vouchers for Microsoft Business Certification Exams and 2,700 vouchers for advanced technical professional-level online training, Rob Christensen reports.

Each voucher is redeemable for free online training in Microsoft Windows or one of the programs in the Microsoft Suite.

The vouchers will be distributed through the state community college system, the Division of Workforce Development in the N.C. Department of Commerce, and the N.C. Employment Security Commission.

The partnership is called "Microsoft Elevate America."

Palin in, press out, sir!

markjohnson — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:06:17 -0500

Former Alaska Gov. and former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin will be allowed into Ft. Bragg for her book signing on Monday but the news media won't.

Army officials said they don't want the base outside Fayetteville used as a political platform for criticism of the President. The Associated Press reports Bragg spokesman Tom McCollum saying that:

(Palin) has already agreed not to give a speech at Bragg. But he worried that Palin's supporters might make the event political and use the media to express opinions from the base.
"This will stop someone from grandstanding," McCollum said.

Perdue: No release until 2054

bniolet — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:13:28 -0500

Gov. Bev Perdue said Thursday that a group of violent offenders who are serving life sentences from the 1970s won't be released from prison until at least 2054.

Perdue said the N.C. Department of Correction will not award time off for good behavior, which was a key point in a court's determination that a Fayetteville inmate who was serving a life sentence for a double homicide is due for release.

Perdue's new math will surely lead to a lawsuit from the inmates since she had previously announced that her administration was required to release them.

The inmates were due for release for two reasons. For a five year period in the 1970s, state law defined a "life sentence" as 80 years. And the Department of Correction was applying a calculation of time off for good behavior that essentially cut those sentences in half. The department's action strips the good behavior credit from those inmates.

Her vows to block the release of inmates who were convicted of murder, rape or other serious violent crimes has been a popular issue for Perdue.

"I will continue to pursue all legal means of preventing the release of these inmates without any review by the parole board or any post-release supervision," Perdue said in a news release.

Update: Staples Hughes, the state's Appellate Defender, called Perdue's announcement a political ploy.

"We believe that it is simply an extension of the state's political efforts to buttress the governor's sagging poll ratings by defying the rule of law. We don't believe they will be able to substantiate their opinion in a court of law before impartial judges."

Update: Post now accurately reflects that Perdue did not issue an order about the change.

Eminently meaningless?

lbonner — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:10:49 -0500

Will Sen. Tony Rand's departure from the legislature mean that the bill seeking to limit local government's use of eminent domain will have a big Senate shoe lifted from its neck?

Rep. Paul Stam, an Apex Republiican and House minority leader, hopes that with Rand gone, the bill might have DOA erased from its margins.

How much would it matter?

Tyler Mulligan, an assistant professor of public law and government at the N.C. School of Government, writes that the amendment wouldn't much change current practices.

You can read Mulligan's post on the topic on the School of Government blog.

Shuler parrots lobbyist

bniolet — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:46:40 -0500

U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler was one of three dozen lawmakers who had been persuaded by lobbyists for a drug company to read the lobbyists' talking points into the Congressional Record.

A spokesman for Shuler acknowledged the language was provided by lobbyists for a subsidiary of Swiss drug maker Roche, the Asheville Citizen-Times reports.

Shuler's statement supported language in the House health care reform bill that would give biotechnology firms 12 years of exclusive rights to new biologic drugs they develop and would promote developing generic versions of the treatments. Biologic drugs are complex medicines made using living organisms.
Doug Abrahms, spokesman for Shuler, said the Waynesville Democrat "received and relied on" the statement provided by Genentech lobbyists. He said Shuler has long supported the biotechnology industry, which has a strong presence in North Carolina."
Abrahms declined to comment on whether it's proper to use language provided by an advocate. Some critics said using statements provided by lobbyists exemplifies the too-cozy relationship between corporate interests and members of Congress.

Batchelor running for Wake House seat

bniolet — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:30:58 -0500

Todd Batchelor, a former finance director for the N.C. Republican Party, plans to run for state House District 41 which until recently was held by Democrat Ty Harrell.

The Republican nominee would likely challenge Democrat Chris Heagerty, who was recently named to the House seat, after Harrell's resignation, Rob Christensen reports.

The Wake County seat is regarded as a swing seat that had been held for years by Republican Russell Capps before Harrell's victory in 2006.

"North Carolinians are hungry for change in leadership in Raleigh," Batchelor said in a statement. "People are sick and tired of politicians that consistently raise their taxes and spend their hard earned money irresponsibly. I will be a solid consistent voice for fiscal conservatism and job creation."

Among other issues, Batchelor supports lifting the cap on charter schools.

He was the 2004 Republican nominee for Congress against Democratic Rep. David Price. He is currently legislative chief of staff for Republican state Rep. David Lewis of Dunn. Lewis pays Batchelor with his own money, and his duties include a range of jobs from assisting with constitutent services to helping with fundraisers, Batchelor said.

Update: Post now accurately states that Batchelor would have to win the nomination to challenge Heagerty. Post now also clarifies that Batchelor is not paid by the state.

Rand's departure means hope for some

bniolet — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:16:34 -0500

The departure of state Sen. Tony Rand has a lot of people wondering how the Senate will operate without the powerful master of rules, legislative maneuvers and hard-ball politics.

It even has state Rep. Paul Stam wondering if he'll finally get a favorite bill passed in the Senate. Stam, an Apex Republican and the chamber's minority leader, told Dome the other day that this could be the year that he gets a hearing in the Senate on a proposed constitutional amendment that would limit the government's use of eminent domain.

Stam just happened to have a copy of the bill with him, leading Dome to wonder if he carries it wherever he goes. The bill, which would prohibit the use of eminent domain if land would then be sold for economic development, didn't clear the House this year, but Stam said the Senate, and particularly Rand, have been the major obstacle in past years.

Dome asked whether Rand was the impediment or whether Rand was carrying out the wishes of the Democratic majority.

"That's what we'll find out," Stam said.

Kissell's vote irks his base

bniolet — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:17:23 -0500

VOTE HAUNTS: Nearly two weeks after U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell bucked his party and voted against health care legislation, Democrats in his district are seething. The talk is that Kissell may face a serious primary challenge. (Charlotte Observer)

PORTRAIT PLEASES: Rene Dickerson was nervous as he prepared to unveil his portrait of the late U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms. The cloth over the painting dropped, and the room gasped. The crowd broke into long applause. (N&O)

RESERVES AMPLE: North Carolina state government has at least $620 million at its disposal so far to close any budget hole this fiscal year, the state's budget director says. So far, revenue is down $95 million, a fraction of the multi-billion dollar shortfall faced last year. (AP)

Perdue urges quick action on green

bniolet — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:18:46 -0500

Gov. Bev Perdue told the first meeting of the Energy Policy Council on Wednesday that she wanted her advisors to come up with a plan make the state more energy efficient and environmentally friendly by April in time for the short session of the legislature.

The governor said she wanted the council to look at what taxes should be changed, whether utility regulations should be altered and whether the work force is being properly trained for new green jobs, Rob Christensen reports.

"I am urging you all to make some decisions very quickly on how we can push North Carolina into a national leadership position in green around the green economy," Perdue told a meeting held on the Centennial Campus at N.C. State University.

The council is headed by Tim Toben of Chapel Hill, developer of Greenbridge Development and includes executives from Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas, the Environmental Defense Fund, a biofuels company, a solar fuels company, legislators and others.

Easley campaign manager testifies

bniolet — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:58:32 -0500

A longtime aide and the former campaign manager for former Gov. Mike Easley did on Wednesday what he didn't do last month: Answer questions from authorities probing his old boss.

Jay Reiff, Easley's campaign manager in 2000 and 2004 who also was on Easley's administrative staff at different points, was at the federal courthouse where a grand jury met as part of an ongoing and secret probe of Easley, the Democratic governor who left office in January, J. Andrew Curliss reports.

Reiff, who also managed former Treasurer Richard Moore's gubernatorial campaign, emerged after a couple hours inside, but did not speak to reporters. His lawyer, Michael Weisel, said that Reiff "in response to a subpoena, appeared before the grand jury and fully and completely answered all their questions for several hours." He said it was "regarding the Easley investigation."

Weisel went on to say that it would be inaccurate to say Reiff had not cooperated with last month's state elections board probe, though Reiff did not appear and elections chairman Larry Leake expressed frustration that the board's subpoena power did not extend to Virginia, where Reiff was working on a campaign.

Weisel said Reiff "fully and completely cooperated" with the elections probe and "made himself available to be called but, in fact, was not called."

Leake could not be immediately reached for a response.

Wicker is out

bniolet — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:40:12 -0500

Former Lt. Gov. Dennis Wicker said Wednesday that he would not challenge Republican Sen. Richard Burr next year.

Wicker, a Raleigh lawyer and a Democrat, said he seriously considered a Senate bid this time and received strong encouragement to take the plunge, Rob Christensen reports.

"The demands of raising $15 million to $20 million is just an enormous amount of money," Wicker said.

He also cited the demands of a relatively young family and a full-time law practice.

"Richard Burr is going to be a tough opponent," Wicker said. "But it is a winnable race for a Democrat. About this time in the 2008 election cycle the Democrats were scrambling for a candidate, when Kay Hagan said yes then said no and then came back and said yes. A year is an eternity in politics. It may not look like a great year for Democrats. But it can change quickly, particularly if the economy improves."

Wicker is a former state House majority leader and was a candidate for governor in 2000.

There are two Democrats who have announced their candidacy: Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and Chapel Hill lawyer Kenneth Lewis. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has been trying to convince former state Sen. Cal Cunningham, an Iraq veteran who previously decided not to run, to enter the race.

U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge previously decided not to run.

The incredible shrinking governor

bniolet — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:30:18 -0500

Gov. Bev Perdue is not the woman she used to be — and she's proud of it.

The governor got personal Wednesday morning when she gave a pep talk at the opening ceremony of the State Employees Wellness Fair at the State Fairgrounds, Rob Christensen reports.

"I've always thought there is nothing better than an old-fashioned revival, where you get up and tell it all," Perdue said.

"I want you to know that in 1992 I was twice the size I am today," Perdue said. "I believe if I had the nerve to weigh [myself] I might have tipped the scales at right near 180 to 190 pounds. I'm 5'3 and a half."

"I felt crummy," she said. "But I could do something about it."

She decided to improve her health because of her two sons who depended on her as a single mother. So rather than having a bag of Doritos when she got back to New Bern after a week of serving in the legislature, she might have a half a bag. She said it was a very gradual thing.

She also stopped smoking cigarettes in 2003 after she was afraid she was experiencing a stroke. She said she wanted to be around for her boys.

The Awkward Express

bniolet — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:10:04 -0500

Vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin wasn't happy about having to share her campaign bus with U.S. Sen. Richard Burr.

We at Dome know the Winston-Salem Republican as a personable guy who's pretty easy going. And so, Palin's unhappiness over her travel companion has us thinking of possible reasons, beyond the fact that Burr was very close to Sen. John McCain, who led the ticket.

So here are five possibilities:

1. Palin, used to the colder climate in Alaska, didn't trust a man who wears dress shoes without socks.

2. Two hours of Wake Forest football war stories was more than enough, thank you.

3. She got tired of Burr wanting to pull over at every ATM to withdraw money.

4. At campaign stops, Palin noticed Burr's VW "Thing" parked illegally.

5. Burr kept bragging that his staff was better looking than her staff.

Watchdog wants reforms

bniolet — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:20:41 -0500

Campaign finance watchdog Joe Sinsheimer is urging Gov. Bev Perdue to remove Ruffin Poole, a former top aide to Gov. Mike Easley, from the Golden LEAF board because he refused to testify at last month's state elections board hearing.

Sinsheimer, a Democratic political consultant who has emerged as an advocate of transparent government and campaign finance reforms, also said Perdue should release all reports on missing gubernatorial travel records from 2005, J. Andrew Curliss reports on the Investigations blog.

Perdue has so far refused to release the records.

In addition, he asks for a review of the permitting process surrounding a controversial cement plant near Wilmington, citing ongoing revelations about the state's environmental agency.

There was no immediate response from Perdue.

Update: A spokeswoman for Perdue said this afternoon that the governor is reviewing the letter and did not have a detailed response about Poole.

Document(s):
Sinsheimer_letter.pdf

Crowd wisdom has Hagan a 'yes'

bniolet — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:54:34 -0500

Lots of people seem to think U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan will eventually vote "yes" on the health care reform bill moving through the Senate.

In an admittedly unscientific measure, Congress.org (which you may recognize as the new home of our former colleague Ryan Teague Beckwith) asked readers to pick how all 100 senators will vote on health care reform.

The idea, as RTB explains it, is to try to use group wisdom to identify the true swing votes and the people most deserving of letters, phone calls and lobbying efforts by both sides of the debate.

By Wednesday, 85 percent of the 74 people who had voted thought Hagan, a Greensboro Democrat, would vote "yes." By contrast, 98 percent had Sen. Richard Burr, a Winston-Salem Republican, as voting against the bill.

Hagan has said she supports many of the proposals in the bill, but has remained vague on key points. The uncertainty has attracted a lot of attention from special interests.

So far group wisdom has identified only Maine Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe as truly on the fence.

Heck no we won't have seconds

bniolet — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:39:09 -0500

State Rep. Hugh Holliman didn't have to resort to National Guard troops to defuse a protest at a recent fundraiser.

Holliman's event at a Raleigh restaurant was to come under withering protest from members of the State Employees Association of N.C. who are unhappy with Holliman's support for financial fixes to the State Health Plan that shift some costs to employees.

Four to five protesters actually showed on the cold and rainy Friday night, said Holliman, a Lexington Democrat. Holliman sent them food.

"We put a tray together and sent it out," he said.

Palin grumpy over ride with Burr

bniolet — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:05:34 -0500

As she campaigned around the country, Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin feuded with Sen. John McCain's senior staff.

In her new book, "Going Rogue," Palin describes those staffers as trying to hold her back and making big blunders. But e-mail messages obtained by the Atlantic magazine show the problems were running both ways.

Palin didn't like having to ride on her campaign bus, the Straight Talk Express II, with special guests, politicians or celebrities.

By late October, Palin and headquarters staff were communicating through intermediates. On October 26, after a long day of stumping in North Carolina, Palin issued an edict to her traveling staff.
"We were informed today that she no longer wishes to do talk radio interviews in the car. It's too distracting," wrote a senior Palin adviser, in an e-mail to senior headquarters staffers.
"We were informed today that she no longer wishes to do TV or print interviews post-rally. She's drained. We were informed of her displeasure that her host and US Senator Richard Burr was allowed to ride the [Straight Talk Express II] with her."
He ended the e-mail: "I don't know what else to tell you."

Hat tip: RTB

Etheridge takes up for pigs

bniolet — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:35:47 -0500

POLITICAL WIND: A decision by the U.S. Capitol Police suggesting that pigs were a threat to spread H1N1 to humans created an unlikely alliance between People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge, a Lillington Democrat and farmer. The police were wrong, he wrote, in their reason for denying permission for PETA to blow hog-waste infused air toward Congress. Pigs don't give H1N1 to people, he explained. (N&O)

UNLIKELY ARTIST: The African American man who painted a portrait of Jesse Helms had heard of the North Carolina senator, but didn't know much about him. Rene Dickerson, whose art often focuses on scenes of African American culture, struggled to get the caucasian flesh tone right. (N&O)

MACKEY PLEA: State Rep. Nick Mackey pleaded guilty Tuesday to contempt of court for his failure to show up for a December 2007 trial of a client and had his sentencing indefinitely set aside. Mackey, a Charlotte Democrat, faces a hearing next month before the N.C. State Bar's disciplinary hearing commission over allegations that he failed to pay taxes on time and poorly represented a client. (Charlotte Observer)

Hagan gets visit from NAACP

bniolet — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:30:43 -0500

NAACP President William J. Barber led a delegation to U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan's Washington office today.

Barber was part of a lobbying effort by the NAACP, which says that 880,000 African-Americans have died over the last 10 years because of a lack of health insurance, Rob Christensen reports.

"This cause is one of the most important moral and civil rights issues of our day," Barber said in a statement.

Meanwhile, a coalition of groups supporting health care legislation is holding phone bank training sessions tonight in Asheville, Charlotte, the Triangle, and Wilimington to train people to call Hagan.

Planned Parenthood is planning to run phone banks every Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from their offices.

On Wednesday, the Health Care Action Now Coalition will hold a news conference outside of Hagan's Greensboro office on Wednesday to highlight the need for a public option in the health care legislation.

With the Senate expected to take up a health care bill soon, Hagan has been the subject of a major lobbying effort. She supports in general Democratic proposals for health care, but has given herself wiggle room on some of the details.

Perdue makes judicial appointments

mbieseck — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:53:23 -0500

Gov. Bev Perdue appointed two new district court judges Tuesday.

Perdue appointed Raleigh attorney Margaret Eagles to the bench for the 10th Judicial District for Wake County.

A graduate of Wake Forest University and the Campbell University school of law, Eagles is a former clerk to N.C. Supreme Court Justice George L. Wainwright and worked as an assistant attorney general until 2004, when she entered private practice.

Robert P. Trivette got Perdue's nod to the bench in the First Judicial District, which covers Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Pasquotank and Perquimans counties. Trivette is a former prosecutor in the area now in private practice. He is a graduate of Virginia Intermont College and UNC Law.

Nesbitt: warrior to majority leader

markjohnson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:47:49 -0500

Senate Democrats elected Sen. Martin Nesbitt, a racing crew chief and self-described mountain populist from Asheville, as their new majority leader today.

Nesbitt quickly tried to quell any fears – or hopes, depending on the perspective – that he would steer the Senate down a more liberal course.

"I’m changing roles now," Nesbitt said after his unanimous election. "I’ve been a warrior…I’ll still have my opinions, and I’ll express them…but at the end of the day I’ll be about trying to help this caucus get where it wants to go."

Nesbitt’s tenure in the legislature started in 1979 and was interrupted once, when he lost his House seat in 1994 during the Republican tide that year. The GOP has hopes of riding voter discontent to a similar sweep next year, and Nesbitt said the lessons learned from 15 years ago will be invaluable as he helps Democrats prepare.

"There are very few things that I’m the most qualified for," he said, "but getting us through this election is one of them."

Nesbitt, a lawyer, also runs the racing operations for his son, Mart, who races in the USAR Pro Cup series.

Helms portrait to be unveiled

bkrueger — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:40:19 -0500

A portrait of the late U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms, done by an African-American artist, will be unveiled Wednesday in Washington's Capitol Hill Club.

The unveiling of the painting by Rene Dickerson is expected to bring together Helms friends and admirers, including Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly, U.S. Reps. Virginia Foxx, Patrick McHenry and Sue Myrick. Former U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns will act as master of ceremonies. Dot Helms, the senator's widow, will be on hand.

The choice of artist could generate a buzz at the event, reports Rob Christensen.

Helms opposed every piece of civil rights legislation while serving in Congress and he was a major critic of the civil rights movement while he was a Raleigh television commentator.

Not only is Dickerson an African-American, but his work is not traditional portraituture. The California native cites as his inspiration such artists as Van Gogh, Picasso, Dali, Jacob Lawrence and Romare Bearden.

Dickerson's work is featured in the private collections of Oprah Winfrey, Bill Cosby and former Motown president Berry Gordy.

The portrait is being sponsored by the Jesse Helms Center in Monroe and by Brian Summers, a former Helms staffer, who has ties to Motown and Gordy.

The portrait will remain in the Capitol Hill Club, which has served as a social club for Republicans since 1951. It is located next door to the Republican National Committee and two blocks from the U.S. Capitol.

Vilsack to visit Harnett County

bkrueger — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:23:06 -0500

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will be in Harnett County on Friday to meet with farmers and discuss agriculture issues. He’ll be joined by U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge, a Lillington Democrat.

Obama nominates Brill to FTC

bkrueger — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:03:26 -0500

President Barack Obama has nominated North Carolina’s top consumer advocate for a position on the Federal Trade Commission.

Julie Brill became the senior deputy attorney general and chief of consumer protection and antitrust for the N.C. Department of Justice in February. Before that role, she spent 20 years in a similar role in Vermont.

If confirmed, Brill would become a commissioner on the FTC, responsible for enforcing antitrust legislation and protecting consumers from anti-competitive practices.

Nesbitt ascension expected today

markjohnson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:47:10 -0500

Democratic senators are scheduled to meet at 11:30 this morning to elect a new majority leader, a proceeding which is expected to be a coronation of Sen. Martin Nesbitt, of Asheville.

Nesbitt goes into the meeting with the endorsement of Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight plus Nesbitt's own allies. He would replace Sen. Tony Rand, of Fayetteville, who is resigning from the Senate to chair the state parole board. The majority leader is the traffic cop who helps decide what legislation gets to the Senate floor and leads the agenda for floor sessions.

The lingering question is who Basnight will tap as chairman of the Rules Committee, a duty that Rand also held, often serving as gatekeeper for whether a bill will advance or whether an amendment survives.

GOP less inclusive?

bniolet — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:48:13 -0500

The N.C. Republican Party's executive committee will consider banning unaffiliated voters from voting in Republican primaries.

The party has until Dec. 1 to decide whether to allow both Republicans and unaffiliated voters to participate in primaries and will consider a ban this weekend.

According to the proposed resolution, the participation of unaffiliated voters results in more moderate nominees.

"Primary turnout is generally low. Registered unaffiliated voters are affecting the outcome of the Republican Nominee for the November general election resulting in a more moderate candidate being elected in some areas of the state," according to the resolution.

The idea likely has little support among prominent state Republicans. Next year could be a big Republican year, in part because unaffiliated voters may be swinging away from the Democrats. Telling those voters they're not wanted isn't a great way to get things started.

Document(s):
GOP resolution.pdf

Edwards offered to quit for VP slot

bniolet — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:27:56 -0500

Ahead of the South Carolina primary last year, a high-level aide to then-candidate John Edwards made an offer to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

He would quit the race and back whoever agreed to add him to the ticket, Obama's campaign manager writes in a new book. Talking Points Memo calls the revelation a "shocker," but is anyone really surprised? David Plouffe's book has also revealed that Plouffe was the source of the tip that led to coverage of Edwards' $400 haircuts.

But then right at the end of the conversation, the Edwards rep added a new wrinkle: "Just to be clear, we're going to talk to the Clinton people too. That's not where John's heart is, but he is at a point of maximum leverage now. We want to see what each of you is thinking."
My initial reaction was that this was a nonstarter. Of course we wanted Edwards's support and his message was certainly closer in spirit to ours than it was to Hillary's. But political deals like this rarely work: people see right through them.
Plus I couldn't imagine Obama agreeing this far out to lock in his running mate without going through any process or even being certain that we would be the ones making a selection.
Obama's answer was quick and firm: he would cut no deals. If he won, he did not want to be locked in to any personnel matters, and he had little interest in deciding on a vice presidential pick in the heat of the primary campaign.

The Edwards aide later said that Clinton's campaign seemed to want it more, an assertion Plouffe didn't believe. Edwards eventually endorsed Obama.

Hat tip: RTB

Price returns from Mid-East trip

bniolet — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:10:44 -0500

U.S. Rep. David Price has returned from a week-long trip to the Middle East.

Price, a Chapel Hill Democrat, led a congressional delegation with the House Democracy Assistance Commission, a bi-partisan group that mentors new democracies around the world, Barb Barrett reports.

The group was in Lebanon when the country’s new parliament and president were sworn in last week.

Then, they traveled to Afghanistan to meet with President Hamid Karzai. The group also spent time in Pakistan meeting with parliament leaders there before returning Monday to the United States.

Wright's lawyers say charge didn't fit

bniolet — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:00:15 -0500

CHARGE IT: Former state Rep. Thomas Wright's 2008 obstruction of justice conviction came on a made-up charge, his lawyer argued before an N.C. Court of Appeals panel Monday. An attorney for the state told the judges that the charge fit well with Wright's actions. (N&O)

HIRING THAWED: Public universities continued to hire faculty members this year even as cuts to swelling administrative ranks put many employees out of work. The faculty hiring is the result of a strategic move by UNC system leaders to shave costs almost exclusively from the administrative side of the ledger and protect academics. (N&O)

A BETTER TOMORROW: Gov. Bev Perdue told elected education officials Monday that the state's financial picture is improving but unemployment may keep rising in the short term. (AP)

Spontaneity of innovation, meet govt

markjohnson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:01:52 -0500

The creative and instinctive nature of innovation will now be channeled through, yes, a government agency.

Gov. Bev Perdue, by executive order, established the state's first Innovation Council on Monday. The group's mission is to: coordinate public and private investment to promote innovation, help move ideas faster from the lab to the marketplace and improve the collaboration between business, academia and government.

Perdue announced the creation of the council during a visit to the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine in Winston-Salem.

The council will be chaired by Al Delia, senior adviser to Perdue, and Steve Nelson, managing partner of the Wakefield Group.

(Dome wanted to provide a link to the Wakefield Group's Web site but found the site was down and has been for months. Nelson said the firm was receiving too many unsolicited business offers over the Internet and doesn't need to market itself on the web.)

UPDATE: Click the attachment to see the council's members.

Document(s):
Innovation Council Appointees.txt

Steelman aims to stay on court

markjohnson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:46:51 -0500

N.C. Court of Appeals Judge Sanford Steelman announced Monday he is seeking a second term.

First elected in 2002 as a Republican, Steelman is the only judge on the Court of Appeals from the Charlotte area. He and his wife, Buff, live in Weddington.

Steelman plans to participate in the state's public financing for judicial campaigns, which limits both fundraising and spending. Judicial races are now nonpartisan.

Steelman practiced law in Monroe from 1976 to 1994, when he was elected a superior court judge. He's a graduate of Davidson College and UNC law school.

Foxx sounds like "Snakes On A Plane"?

markjohnson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:15:26 -0500

Add talk show host and comedian Wanda Sykes to the list of national shows that have taken a shot at U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, a Republican from Banner Elk.

Sykes derided Foxx's most recent outrage-inducing remark, that health care reform legislation poses a greater danger than any terrorist, as sounding like something actors are paid to say, such as Samuel L. Jackson's profanity-laced lines from "Snakes On A Plane."

Brooke Cain's TV blog has the whole story.

U.S. Attorney worried about 4th Circuit

markjohnson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:08:04 -0500

George Holding, the Republican-appointed U.S. attorney for North Carolina's eastern district, expressed some angst over changes in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, which includes North Carolina.

Holding was attending the conservative Federalists Society annual convention in Washington last week when he stepped to the microphone to ask a question of U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, a Republican from Alabama, National Law Journal reports.

"I'm concerned about the changing makeup of the 4th Circuit," said Holding, who was appointed by then-President George W. Bush.

Sessions said he was bothered by the criminal case rulings of a Maryland nominee but indicated Republicans are not eager to block many judges.

"We've resisted filibusters of judges, thinking it's not a good idea," Sessions said.