SEANC is airing more ads against state legislators.

The State Employees Association of North Carolina is running radio ads against Reps. Ray Rapp of Madison County and Van Braxton of Lenoir County, both Democrats. 

As part of an ongoing campaign, ads criticize the legislators for voting for a bill designed to keep the State Health Plan afloat.

"Legislators need to understand this issue is not going away," said Executive Director Dana Cope in a statement. "We will hold them accountable when they make bad decisions, and SEANC will educate constituents when their legislators decide to put a multi-million dollar nonprofit's interests ahead of North Carolina taxpayers."

Previous ads have targeted Senate Majority Leader Hugh Holliman and Reps. Margaret Dickson, Bruce Goforth and Pryor Gibson. 

SEANC is targeting state Rep. Margaret Dickson.

The State Employees Association of North Carolina will run a radio ad in the Fayetteville Democrat's district, criticizing her for a bill that would allow furloughs of state workers.

Dickson is one of three primary co-sponsors of House Bill 708, which would allow the governor to order mandatory furloughs to keep the budget balanced.

The ad argues that Dickson "wants to force state workers like probation officers" to take unpaid leave, then notes the problems with the state's probation system.

"The fact is our state's probation officers are underpaid and overworked, with caseloads that are out of control," it says. "Forcing them to take time off will just make matters worse." 

The ad also criticizes Dickson for voting for the short-term fix to the State Health Plan. 

Script after the jump.

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Recent House bills of note:

H.B. 661: City Managers on School Boards, Rep. Ray Warren

H.B. 677: Require a "First in Flight" Background, Reps. Lucy Allen, Lorene Coates, Nelson Cole and Becky Carney

H.B. 691: State Contracts/Slavery Profits, Reps. Larry Womble, Earl Jones, Annie Mobley and Earline Parmon

H.B. 708: Furlough of State Employees, Reps. Ray Rapp, Rick Glazier and Margaret Dickson

H.B. 711: Sales Tax Fairness Act, Reps. Winkie Wilkins and Dale Folwell

H.B. 724: Open Records Attorneys' Fees, Reps. George Cleveland and Curtis Blackwood

Rep. Margaret Dickson
Fayetteville Democrat
Fourth Term

What two things would you cut in the state budget? "I can't tell you specific cuts. Until Gov. (Beverly) Perdue releases her budget, everything is really just talk."

Are there any taxes you would be in favor of increasing? "For me, everything is on the table. If we have to raise revenue, we'll have to raise revenue."

— Lynn Bonner 

Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue will speak at a Lillian's List gathering.

Perdue will be the keynote speaker at a Jan. 28 "victory breakfast" by the group, which promotes pro-choice female candidates in North Carolina.

The event will be held at the Cardinal Club on the penthouse levels of the Raleigh skyscraper known for the time being as the Wachovia Capitol Center.

It's not known what Perdue will say, but the state's first female governor will no doubt reference the group's namesake, first female Southern legislator Lillian Exum Clement.

The breakfast will also honor candidates backed by the group, including state Reps. Alice Bordsen, Jane Whilden, Margaret Dickson, Alice Underhill, Lucy Allen, Linda Coleman, Maggie Jeffus and Jennifer Weiss.

Tickets cost $100. Sponsorships are also available for $250 to $4,000.

Registration is online here.

A campaign finance reform group has praised 21 legislators for their openness.

Democracy North Carolina identified a group of state lawmakers who are doing "a superior job" identifying occupations and employers of their donors on campaign finance forms.

Though candidates are required to make their best effort to identify all donors, many fall short, listing only names, dates and amounts.

The group singled out legislators who raised more than $15,000 and provided full information on 98 percent or more of donors, including Senate President Marc Basnight and House Speaker Joe Hackney, both Democrats.

From the House: Democrats Tricia Cotham, Jim Crawford, Margaret Dickson, Rick Glazier, Bruce Goforth, Deborah Ross, Russell Tucker, Jennifer Weiss and Verla Insko, and Republican David Lewis.

From the Senate: Democrats Charlie Albertson, Doug Berger, Linda Garrou, Clark Jenkins, A.B. Swindell and Republicans Pete Brunstetter, Neal Hunt, Richard Stevens and Jerry Tillman.

"It's crucial for the public to have the full picture about the candidates before they vote — and the pattern of where a campaign’s money comes from is an important part of that picture," said Kaitlin Stollbrink, an intern at Democracy North Carolina.

FAYETTEVILLE—A number of prominent local Democrats are on the guest list.

Fayetteville Mayor Tony Chavonne is at the Barack Obama event, although he took pains to say that he is neutral in the presidential race, Rob Christensen reports.

The mayor of nearby Spring Lake, Ethel Clark, is also here, as it state Rep. Rick Glazier.

No word on Clark's thoughts, but Glazier said he is backing Obama.

"I've supported him for some time," he told Dome. "He has the capacity to bridge partisan and economic groups."

Also expected are state Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand, namesake of the student center where Obama is speaking, and Reps. Margaret Dickson of Fayetteville and Marvin Lucas of Spring Lake.

Not on the guest list: Three kids from Mebane.

Tina Salvatore, 18; Emily Mason, 17; and Joseph Byrd, 21, got up at 2:45 a.m., grabbed some sandwich meat and bread and drove three hours, thinking it was a public event.

Wearing homemade Obama T-shirts outside, they said they would listen to the speech on loudspeakers set up by Fayetteville Tech.

After that, they said they might go to the beach. 

The N.C. Technology Association recognized Beverly Perdue Thursday.

The lieutenant governor was given an Outstanding Achievement Award by the technology lobbying group at an awards dinner at the Embassy Suites in Cary.

She received the award for her work on initiatives extending Internet access to schools, offering online tobacco prevention and fitness training and providing telemedicine.

She was also recognized for chairing the Business Education Technology Alliance, which promotes technology in education.

Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand, state Sen. David Hoyle and Reps. Pryor Gibson, Margaret Dickson and Rick Glazier received public leadership awards at the ceremony.