Among all the conservative politicians at the N.C. General Assembly, it appears none are conservative enough to suit Civitas Action.

The non-profit voter education group, with has ties to the conservative John William Pope Civitas Institute, released its Conservative Effectiveness Rankings for the 2009 legislative session on Monday.

Rep. Dale Folwell, a Forsyth County Republican, snagged the title of the most conservative member of the N.C. House, with a 89.8 score on the 100-point scale developed by Civitas Action. At the other end of the spectrum, Speaker Joe Hackney, a Democrat from Orange County, was awarded a score of 0.

In the state Senate, Davie County Republican Sen. Andrew Brock was rated as the body's most conservative member, with a score of 79. Three Democrats, Sens. Ellie Kinnaird of Orange, Katie Dorsett of Guilford and Martin Nesbitt of Buncombe were all scored at the bottom, tying at 2.1 on the group's scale.

Civitas Action's scale is based on the elected officials' votes on bills and amendments the group identified as demonstrative of commitment to conservative ideals as "derived from free-market economic policies, limited government, personal responsibility and civic engagement," according to the group's web site.

By that measure, the most conservative member of the state House got the equivalent of a B+, whole the most conservative senator got a C+.

UPDATE: Bill Holmes, spokesman for Speaker Hackney, points out that the Democratic leader didn't vote on 49 of the 50 bills Civitas Action graded. The speaker typically only votes to break a tie or at other points where his support is determinative, Holmes said. Sen. Vernon Malone, who died in April, also got a 0 score from the group due to his being "absent" when many of the bills came up.  

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Wake Up America thinks there's good politics to be found in Mary Kay, Amway or Tupperware parties.

The organization, which is seeking to be a national conservative answer to MoveOn.org, is offering to pay commissions to volunteers who recruit more volunteers and raise money.

In short, the group is building a multi-level marketing pyramid. The commissions wouldn't likely amount to a whole lot of money, but would be intended to help compensate volunteers for their time and effort.

"We're not offering any pink Cadillacs," said state Sen. Andrew Brock, a Mocksville Republican, a reference to the Mary Kay cosmetics sales prize. "We're wanting to grow and not get rich."

The commission rate has not yet been determined, Brock said.

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The atmosphere was more Thunderdome than Under the Dome at the annual House vs. Senate milk-chugging for charity contest Wednesday.

Pages and legislative assistants hollered for their favorite chamber ("Go Senate! Come on House!) and specators jockeyed for a view of six distiguished public officeholders sucking on straws jammed into tiny plastic milk bottles.

Rep. David Lewis, a Dunn Republican, was not above a little pre-chug smack talk.

"This is the sound of your defeat," he said to his Senate opponents as he silently popped off the plastic cap of one of his milk bottles.

The contest was sponsored by the state's dairy industry and the Department of Agriculture.

Reps. Lewis, Arthur Williams (D-Washington) and Roger West (R-Marble) challenged Sens. Joe Sam Queen (D-Waynesville), Bob Atwater (D-Chapel Hill) and Andrew Brock (R-Mocksville).

It appeared to be a fair contest, although there were some rumblings about non-regulation straws and early chugging. The Senate team finished first, earning $200 for their favorite, as yet unnamed, charity. The House team will get $100 for charity.

(News & Observer photo by TAKAAKI IWABU).

* State Republicans may nominate a candidate from the floor for party chair: Former gubernatorial candidate George Little or state Sen. Andrew Brock.

* John Hagler grouses about the current state of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in an entertaining interview on WFAE in Charlotte. 

* The Henderson Daily Dispatch says the Order is a great honor when it's made to a "local pillar, a community stalwart" and not for a retirement.

* Jack Betts files another dispatch in the long-running battle over an Alcoa hydroelectric dam on the Yadkin River in Stanly County.

Tonight will see the N.C. General Assembly — the NCGA? — play its own version of the March Madness sweeping college basketball.

The game will be in Columbia, S.C.

Rep. Phil Haire, a Sylva Democrat, organized this year's lineup, a bipartisan squad known more for passing bills than basketballs.

House Chaplain Jim Harry accurately summarized the pre-game mood when he called upon a higher power to be with the North Carolina squad.

"Please remind them they're not 20-year-olds running up and down the court," Harry intoned.

More after the jump.

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A bill would allow concealed weapons in restaurants.

Sen. Andrew Brock filed a bill last week that would allow North Carolinians with concealed weapons permits to take their guns into restaurants.

A companion bill was filed this week in the House. 

Under state law, it is a Class I misdemeanor to take "any gun, rifle or pistol" into any establishment that serves alcohol, unless you are the proprietor, police officer or on-duty military.

Brock said that criminals are more likely to target restaurants for robberies knowing that fewer patrons may be carrying a gun. He cited shootings in malls and at Virginia Tech.

"The reasons they have gunmen go into these areas is because they know the people there are defenseless," he said. "If they knew that people were armed or had a possibility of being armed, they wouldn't go in there."

A separate House bill would also allow concealed weapons in state parks. 

Brock, who plans to undergo training for a concealed weapons permit soon, said he would support that measure as well.

Recent bills filed in the Senate of note:

S.B. 235: Personal Protection in Restaurants, Sen. Andrew Brock

S.B. 236: Notarized Consent for Minor's Abortion, Sen. Brock

S.B. 237: Voting Materials in English, Sen. Brock

S.B. 259: Interscholastic Sports Open to All Students, Sen. Jim Jacumin

S.B. 262: Expunctions/Purge Online Databases, Sen. Phil Berger

* Attorney General Roy Cooper tells WTVD that he'll make a decision about whether to run for U.S. Senate in 2010 "very soon." (H/T: Draft Coop)

* Democratic consultant Gary Pearce says U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler's anti-stimulus vote may cost him heavily in the 2010 Senate primary.

* After getting stuck on his first day at the legislature, Sen. Don Vaughan files a bill requiring elevators be numbered to help firefighters find them.

* Republican Sen. Andrew Brock files a bill that would move North Carolina's presidential primary up three months to February.

Which legislators have tobacco companies in their districts?

With the General Assembly again considering enacting a smoking ban in restaurants and workplaces, Dome decided to see who represents the tobacco firms.

Alternative Brands, Mocksville:
Rep. Julia Howard, Sen. Andrew Brock

Commonwealth Brands, Reidsville:
Rep. Nelson Cole, Sen. Phil Berger

Lorillard, Greensboro:
Rep. Maggie Jeffus, Sen. Don Vaughan

Philip Morris, Concord:
Rep. Jeff Barnhart, Sen. Fletcher Hartsell

Reynolds American, Winston-Salem:
Rep. Larry Womble, Sen. Linda Garrou

Reynolds American, Tobaccoville:
Rep. Dale Folwell, Sen. Pete Brunstetter

In the 2007 session, Reps. Howard, Jeffus, Barnhart and Womble voted for a smoking ban in public places, while Reps. Cole and Folwell voted against it.

Sen. Andrew Brock
Mocksville Republican
Fourth Term

What two things would you cut in the state budget? He said the administration of More at Four and Smart Start could be consolidated.

Are there any taxes you would be in favor of increasing? "This is not a good time to raise taxes on individuals or businesses."

— Lynn Bonner