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UPDATED: Former state Sen. David Rouzer is hitting the donor circuit again in his second bid for Congress.

Rouzer traveled to Washington for a fundraiser Wednesday featuring Republican Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy of California and the GOP members of the N.C. congressional delegation, according to an invite.

The noon fundraiser is at the offices of lobbying firm Meyers & Associates. It costs hosts $2,500 to attend with the minimum contribution at $250. A Rouzer spokesman said the space is being rented from the lobbying firm by the campaign.

Rouzer is trying again to beat Democratic Congressman Mike McIntyre. He narrowly lost in the 2012 election and announced a second bid just a few months later.

UPDATED: DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S PROBLEMS GROW: The head of the North Carolina Democratic Party is facing questions about credit card charges made during a March trip to a Las Vegas casino to watch basketball games with his old college buddies. Records obtained by The Associated Press show state Democratic Chairman Randy Voller made $3,327 in charges to Southwest Airlines and the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel on an American Express Business Gold Card embossed with his name and that of the North Carolina Democratic Party. He said he's paid off the balance in full. Much more to this story -- click here.

N.C. LAWMAKERS TO PLAY "THE OTHER CAROLINA" IN BASKETBALL: North Carolina lawmakers will challenge their South Carolina counterparts to a game of hoops Wednesday evening at Reynolds Coliseum. The game is the first in at least four years between lawmakers from the two Carolinas. Rep. Burt Jones, a Rockingham Republican who will coach the North Carolina squad, helped revive the tradition. “The games in the past were pretty competitive,” he said. (Scouting report below.)

***This is the Dome Morning Memo -- the source for N.C. political news and fun (see below). Send news and tips to dome@newsobserver.com. ***

TODAY'S BIG STORY: Republican lawmakers outlined a proposal Wednesday to revamp the state’s tax system, offering a slew of reforms that would radically shift the tax burden in North Carolina. The proposal would eliminate personal and corporate income taxes in exchange for higher state sales taxes levied against groceries, medical expenses and other currently tax-free services.

SUPPORTERS SAY: Senate leader Phil Berger said the moves are necessary to modernize the state’s tax code and kick-start a struggling economy. He pointed to the state’s tax rates, saying the current 6.9 percent corporate tax rate and 7.75 percent personal tax rate for the highest earners are among the highest the region. “It is important for us in terms of our competitive posture with other states,” the Republican from Eden told reporters. “It is important for us in terms of making sure there is a fair allocation of the cost of government.”

CRITICS SAY: Critics caution that the proposals represent a fundamental change in who pays the state’s tax burden, and economists said that low-income people would feel the brunt. “For this particular proposal, the responsibility would shift from rich households and prosperous corporations to poor households and smaller businesses,” Dave Ribar, a professor at UNC-Greensboro, concluded in his analysis of the proposal.

As co-chair the Charlotte Host Committee, Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers was in some ways a face of the Democratic National Convention. He also arranged Duke's $10 million line of credit and gave $10,000 to Barack Obama's campaign.

Now he's helping one of North Carolina's top Republicans. Rogers is hosting a fundraiser at his Eastover home for House Speaker Thom Tillis of Cornelius. Tillis expects to use the money to help elect other Republicans to the state House, where he's trying to build a "super-majority."

--Jim Morrill, Observer staff writer

Another day, another Republican governor traveling to North Carolina to help Pat McCrory's campaign.

On Saturday, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal will appear with McCrory at a rally in Emerald Isle (Holiday Trav-L-Park Resort, in case you're interested). Deal will also appear at a fundraiser for the Republican nominee.

N.C. Democrats hold their annual western fundraiser Oct. 6 -- exactly one month to the election in one of the most important electoral states in the nation. 

But so far, the biggest Democratic name on the program is R.T. Rybak. Who? He's the mayor of Minneapolis and vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee. (Pictured.)

The program for the 52nd Western Gala -- previously known as the Vance-Aycock -- could still change. The other special guests for the event at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville are Gov. Bev Perdue and Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton. Tickets cost $100 with top donors giving $5,000 or more.

GOP darling Marco Rubio is the headliner at a fundraiser next week for congressional candidate Robert Pittenger.

The Sept. 26 fundraiser at the Charlotte City Club includes a private photo reception for those who gives $1,000 or more. Individual tickets cost $250. The hosts include Frank Dowd IV, Johnny Harris, Rick Hendrick and Felix Sabates.

Rubio is the Republican senator from Florida and a vice presidential short-lister. Pittenger, the former state senator and lieutenant governor candidate, is running in the 9th Congressional District.

Lillian's List will host Democratic women candidates Thursday evening for a fundraising featuring Gov. Bev Perdue.

About 250 people are expected to attend the Chapel Hill event for candidates who support the liberal group's abortion rights agenda. Democratic state lawmaker Alice Bordsen, who is retiring, will be honored and the event will feature two legislative candidates, Valerie Foushee and Deb McManus.

The group plans to distribute $44,000 in political contributions this election as it supports 26 candidates. See a list of sponsors here.

Former governor and GOP presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee will headline a fund raiser in Durham for Republican candidate for lieutenant governor Dan Forest.

Tickets are required for the Sept. 27 event.

The former Arkansas governor has a show on Fox called...Huckabee.

Three days after he and his new running mate galvanized crowds in two N.C. cities, Mitt Romney came to Charlotte on Wednesday to raise money for a GOP presidential campaign that needs North Carolina for any chance of victory in November.

The former Massachusetts governor is at the Duke Mansion, chatting and posing for snapshots with donors from the worlds of NASCAR and business.

Those who gathered to meet with the Republican Party’s presidential candidate had to wait. The event was scheduled for 1 p.m., but Romney didn’t arrive until a few minutes after 2 p.m. Read more from Jim Morrill and Tim Funk here.