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Rep. Becky Carney can take heart: Obama voted wrong, too

State Rep. Becky Carney is getting a good bit of attention for her mistaken vote to approve the override of the governor's fracking veto. But she can take heart: President Barack Obama voted wrong when he was a state lawmaker, too.

Republicans sent along a 2008 article from the Los Angeles Times (written by UNC-Chapel Hill grad Peter Wallsten) describing how Obama mistakenly voted six times. 

The rules in the Illinois Senate allowed Obama to change his vote in the record. North Carolina lawmakers routinely do the same but House rules prohibit a vote change if it affects the outcome of passage, as in Carney's case. 

House GOP backs down, allows election money in the budget

UPDATED: House Republicans reversed course Thursday, allowing a Democratic-sponsored amendment it blocked a day that takes money from a gubernatorial inauguration fund to get a federal grant designed to ensure the integrity of the 2012 election.

The amendment to a bill tweaking the recentally approved state budget won by a large bipartisan margin -- 90 to 21. It's unclear why the GOP blocked Democratic Rep. Deborah Ross' attempt Wednesday but allowed Rep. Mickey Michaux's amendment Thursday. 

A day prior, House Speaker Thom Tillis even went so far as to defend the House's use of the obsure rule to keep the amendment from being considered. The rules are there for a reason," Tillis said, noting the chamber already had a lengthy debate on the Help America Vote Act -- or HAVA -- money.

The Senate later voted not to agree with the change, meaning more negotiations are likely.

At N.C. Democratic Party convention, Obama campaign appears absent

UPDATED: Amid all the campaign signs at the state Democratic Party convention Saturday afternoon, one is conspicuously absent: Obama for America.

The only signs touting President Barack Obama in the convention hall are vendors selling buttons and T-shirts. The Obama campaign doesn't appear to have a table, or an organized presence at the event, where more than 1,200 party members are gathered.

A number of Democrats privately note the absence as odd, but the Obama campaign apparently dismisses the notion.

Morning Roundup: State lawmakers are moving fast on major legislation

The legislature is moving quickly with session expected to finish by the end of the month -- if not sooner. Get the full stories here:

A fracking bill is on the fast-track even though new federal estimates reveal a far smaller amount of natural gas than previously thought in North Carolina. Gov. Bev Perdue signed the Cherokee gaming bill minutes after Senate approval, as the tribe aims for July 4th gaming at its casino. A House committee approved a restricted Racial Justice Act and the controversial bill is likely to emerge on the full House floor next week. And a divided House panel approved a measure to prohibit death row inmates from watching TVs, despite concerns that it would lead to increased violence and bad behavior.

More political headlines below.

Democrats hit Pat McCrory again on his ethics

Democrats are launching a second attack on Pat McCrory, questioning his ethics and pledge to clean up Raleigh if elected governor.

The 30-second spot funded by the Democratic Governors Association focuses on McCrory's job at Duke Energy while he was Charlotte mayor.

Democrats push resolution opposing Citizens United decision

Saying "the justices were in error," Democratic state lawmakers will introduce House and Senate resolutions Thursday to express opposition to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United.

The ruling established that corporations and unions could make unlimited independent campaign expenditures. Critics are seeking a federal constitutional amendment to  declare that such donations are not free speech, as the court found.

Rep. Verla Insko, a Chapel Hill Democrat and lead sponsor of HR 1201, said the ruling is a "true threat to democracy." With the resolution, North Carolina joins more than two dozen other states to consider legislation or resolutions opposing the Citizens United decision. 

Editorial cartoon: Momma Perdue and baby Dalton

In case you missed it, click here to check out Charlotte Observer editorial cartoonist Kevin Siers' latest take on the N.C. governor's race. Hint: It includes momma Bev Perdue and a baby Walter Dalton.

Cartoon: How Walter Dalton morphs into Gov. Bev Perdue

The Charlotte Observer's editorial cartoonist Kevin Siers drew quite a bit of laughter with his rendering of the Democratic candidates for governor earlier this year. In his new cartoon, he sheds light on how draws Lt. Gov Walter Dalton, the party's nominee.

Marlowe Foster seeks runoff in Democratic labor commissioner race

The second-place finisher in the Democratic labor commissioner primary is asking for a runoff election.

With the formal request, Marlowe Foster will challenge John C. Brooks, the top vote-getter who is seeking a re-election to his former post. Brooks served from 1977 to 1993 as the state's labor commissioner. The three-way May primary didn't allow a candidate to receive more than 40 percent and win outright.

Jon Stewart: North Carolina has become is the Democrat's South Carolina

In a segment called "Tarred Heels," The Daily Show's Jon Stewart ridiculed North Carolina Democrats on Thursday for their various sex scandals.

He starts with John Edwards and moves to the sexual harassment controversy at the state Democratic Party. ("On the bright side, no love child.") His mashup of David Parker's notorious rambling press conference is clever as he notes Jay Parmley's "Seinfeld defense." (He's a close talker.) The kicker: "Congratulations North Carolina, you have become the Democrat's South Carolina." Ouch.

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