A state bill urging Congress to consider offshore drilling in North Carolina has been sent to committee.

The House resolution had been sponsored by Republican leader Paul Stam and Reps. Bill McGee and Dale Folwell of Forsyth County and Carolyn Justice of New Hanover County. It had 41 cosponsors, all Republicans, including state Treasurer candidate Bill Daughtridge.

The bill was mostly symbolic and would not have allowed drilling in North Carolina.

After a series of clauses saying that offshore drilling would reduce gas prices and "promote economic growth and prosperity," the bill calls for the Congressional delegation to support a bill that would end the moratorium on drilling.

The bill had its first reading today, but Speaker Joe Hackney sent it to the Rules Committee.

The move gives Hackney the latitude to revive the bill at any time or let it die in committee before the session ends.

Clarification: An earlier version of this post misused the word "tabled." Hackney's spokesman Bill Holmes says the bill has just been sent to committee and may yet be heard on the House floor.

"To say it's been tabled at this point is premature," he said.

But he would not say that the bill will definitely make it out of committee and be voted on by House members as a whole.

The House opened with a prayer from Chaplain Jim Harry to "fill us with your grace and endow us with the dignity and resolve necessary for us to fulfill our responsibilities."

Shortly after, House Speaker Joe Hackney announced that Rep. Saundra Spaulding Hughes, a Wilmington Democrat, had been appointed to replace disgraced Rep. Thomas Wright, who had been convicted of fraud in state court, Dan Kane reports. Hughes is running for the seat and won last week's primary.

Wright, also a Wilmington Democrat, had represented the district for nearly eight terms.

Little business was conducted in the 20-minute opening session. Reps. Bob England and Carolyn Justice were recognized for having birthdays, and lawmakers were invited to watch a NASCAR-style tire-changing competition between the House and Senate.

State Rep. Thomas Wright faces a maximum of 11 years under sentencing guidelines.

If convicted, he would be forced to resign. The state constitution bars convicted felons from holding elected office. (Char-O)

Several of his colleagues said the Wilmington Democrat should resign.

State Sen. Julia Boseman, a Democrat, said he is a "disgrace to North Carolina, and Rep. Carolyn Justice, a Republican, called for him to step down. Rep. Danny McComas, a Republican, was the only New Hanover County representative who did not call for his immediate resignation.

Two Wilmington City Council members also were not willing to call for his resignation.

Wright is expected to make a first court appearance in the next few days. (WS-N)

A pro-business group has made its first round of House endorsements.

The political action committee of the N.C. Forum for Research and Education endorsed 25 Democrats and all but three Republicans in the state House of Representatives.

The endorsements were based on the senators' voting records on business issues, how business-friendly they are compared to their district and their effectiveness in office.

Among Republicans, the group endorsed House Minority Leader Paul Stam, Rep. Nelson Dollar and Rep. Marilyn Avila, among others.

It did not endorse Reps. Joe Boylan, Carolyn Justice and Ken Furr, who was appointed in August.

Among Democrats, the group endorsed House Majority Leader Hugh Holliman, Rep. W.A. "Winkie" Wilkins, and Rep. Bruce Goforth.

It did not endorse House Speaker Joe Hackney.

A full list after the jump.

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New Hanover County politicians also don't worry about airport parking.

The Wilmington International Airport provides free passes to its employee parking lot for the five county commissioners, state Sen. Julia Boseman and state Reps. Danny McComas, Thomas Wright, Carolyn Justice and Bonner Stiller.

Airport Director Jon Rosborough said he would give the passes to federal officials as well, but so far none have asked.

"They're not down here very often," he said.

The passes save the politicians the cost of parking at the airport, which will soon rise to $14 a day in its short-term lot and $8 a day in its long-term lot. Employees pay $10 a month for parking.

Rosborough said he did not know how often they are used or when the program started. He said the airport authority does not report them as in-kind contributions.

As noted earlier, the Piedmont Triad International Airport has some reserved spots for federal politicians. The Raleigh-Durham International Airport, meantime, said it has no designated spaces.

All but two of the legislators who signed a Feb. 27 letter in favor of a proposed Duke Energy Corp. coal plant received money last year from the company's political action committee.

The letter urged the N.C. Utilities Commission to finish public hearings on the Cliffside project, an 800-megawatt coal-fired plant planned by the Charlotte power company in the Blue Ridge foothills.

Of the 23 senators and representatives who signed it, only Republican Reps. Carolyn Justice and Tim Moore did not receive any money from the Duke Energy Corp. PAC in 2006. (Moore received a $500 donation the year before.)

The contributions, which total $59,750, were mostly given around April and September. They range from $1,000 to Rep. Bill Owens, an Elizabeth City Democrat, to $7,000 to Sen. Tom Apodaca, a Hendersonville Republican.

Of the money, $34,750 went to 13 Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand and House Majority Leader Hugh Holliman, and $25,000 went to eight Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Phil Berger.

A full list of the 2006 donations after the jump.

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Four lawmakers were recognized for environmental efforts Wednesday.

House Speaker Joe Hackney, Sen. Janet Cowell, and Reps. Pricey Harrison and Carolyn Justice were honored by the Conservation Council of North Carolina at its first "Green Tie" dinner.

Hackney was given the Jane Sharp lifetime award for leading a state ban on phostpates in the mid 1980s and sponsoring the Clean Water Act of 1999.

Cowell, a Raleigh Democrat, was honored as "Senator of the Year" and Harrison, a Greensboro Democrat, was "Representative of the Year."

Justice, a Hampstead Republican, was recognized as a "Defender of the Environment" for a bill to increase environmental standards on hog farms.

Reps. Danny McComas and Carolyn Justice said Rep. Thomas Wright should resign.

The two Republicans from New Hanover County said they would no longer work with Wright on legislation, according to the Wilmington Star-News.

From McComas: 

"I find it very unfortunate for him and his family," said McComas, whose district includes eastern Wilmington and the beach towns. "However, the fact is that the allegations made against Rep. Wright are of such gravity that the only right thing to do is take the high road and step aside."

From Justice: 

"I think we now have to think of the greater good," said Justice, who lives in Hampstead and represents northeastern New Hanover County. The county "is truly facing serious issues and it is difficult to deal with those when you don’t have a cohesive delegation." 

As usual, the complete list is after the jump.

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