Is Gov. Mike Easley listening to his critics at the N.C. Republican Party?

Easley just announced that he is adding former state legislator Charles "Chuck" B. Neely Jr. of Raleigh to his e-mail panel.

Although Easley's announcement did not mention it, Neely is registered as a Republican. State GOP officials had complained that Easley had not put any Republicans on the committee, which began its work this morning.

The committee is charged with figuring out how state government should handle e-mail retention under the state's public records law.

Neely is an attorney specializing in state and local tax litigation. He is also a registered lobbyist.

"Chuck Neely's experience as a lawyer, former state representative and lobbyist will be instrumental as the panel develops recommendations to ensure public records are properly maintained," Easley said in a statement.

Chris Fitzsimon dug up a great quote from Goodyear's lobbyist.

In a post on his N.C. Policy Watch blog, Fitzsimon found that Chuck Neely, then a candidate for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, had this to say to the N&O on incentives in 2000:

"In the game of state employees negotiating with corporations, the corporations hold all the cards," he said. "We give away public money to bring industry into the state ... but it makes only a marginal difference. If we want to bring industry to this state, we ought to support education and transportation."

Neely, who lost the nomination to Richard Vinroot, who lost the general election to Gov. Mike Easley, also called incentives "corporate welfare."

Goodyear hired Neely to lobby for them on Aug. 31 — the day after Easley vetoed the original incentives bill.