Rep. Joe Boylan admitted he has a problem today.

In a completely unexpected move, the Moore County Republican asked for a point of personal privilege on the floor of the House this afternoon.

Reading from a short note handwritten note on lined paper, he referred obliquely to his April 12 arrest for drunk driving and claims that he harassed state Rep. Tricia Cotham.

"My behavior over the past year has hurt a few of you, disappointed many of you and has reflected poorly on this house," he said. "For that, I am truly and deeply sorry."

Boylan, who lost the Republican primary in May, said that "with the grace of God" and the support of family and friends he would do everything he could to end the day without drinking.

"My name is Joe," he ended, in the classic Alcoholics Anonymous formulation, "I am an alcoholic and I ask for your forgiveness and your prayers."

After a moment of stunned silence, the House clapped for a few seconds — and business moved on to other legislative matters.

Hat Tip: Laura Leslie

Rep. Joe Boylan, a Republican from Moore County, received a call for his resignation from a recognizable name but from another country.

Joe Sinsheimer, a former Democratic campaign consultant turned political watchdog, urged Boylan's ouster Monday after the freshman legislator was charged with driving while impaired last week, Mark Johnson reports.

"He has quickly replaced Thomas Wright as the legislature's most embarrassing member," Sinsheimer wrote in an email, referring to the Wilmington lawmaker sent to prison last week.

Sinsheimer dispatched his condemnation from Vancouver, British Columbia, in Canada. He is living there for six months while his wife completes an academic fellowship.

"My legislative record reflects I've kept all my promises to the people of Moore County," Boylan said Monday. "I promise the people of Moore County I will complete the steps necessary to stop drinking altogether. I'm running for reelection and plan to win."

More after the jump.

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Rep. Joe Boylan has been charged with driving while intoxicated.

Highway Patrol troopers charged the Pinehurst Republican after he swerved off the side of the road, hitting a tree, in Cameron on Thursday, the Southern Pines Pilot reports.

He was treated for minor injuries at a nearby hospital.

In an e-mail, Boylan said the accident was "a wake-up call."

"This is the first time I have ever been charged with an alcohol-related offense and I promise that it will be the last," he wrote. "I accept full responsibility and am very ashamed of my behavior."

He said he will begin seeking regular counseling to stop drinking and asked for the "forgiveness and prayers" of Moore County citizens. 

State Rep. Phillip Frye was charged with drunk driving in December.

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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State Rep. Debbie Clary is "breaking silence" among fellow House Republicans about the behavior of Rep. Joe Boylan.

The Pilot of Southern Pines reported that Clary, a Cherryville Republican, accused Boylan of lying when he said "nothing happened" between him and a female state representative.

Boylan, a Moore County Republican, had told the newspaper previously that allegations that he had made an improper advance on state Rep. Tricia Cotham, a Mecklenburg County Democrat, was "untrue" and "baseless."

Clary told the paper that the House GOP caucus had told Boylan to apologize to Cotham for his behavior, and that he had done so.

Rep. Joe Boylan doesn't need an excused absence for not voting on the budget tonight.

He can get a doctor's note instead.

The Pinehurst Republican was taken out of the legislature by ambulance for dehydration earlier today.

During the debate on the budget, Rep. Marilyn Avila said she had just spoken with Boylan.

"He has been released from the hospital but is under doctor's orders not to show up here," she said. "He's sorry he's missing all the fun."

No word on whether Boylan's doctor is a Democrat or a Republican.