The Durham-based Center for Responsible Lending is backing House legislation that targets what the group calls predatory lending practices by some North Carolina auto dealers who finance their customers' loans.

"This is taking advantage of car buyers in the worst way, along with taking their hard-earned money each and every payment," Chris Kukla, lobbyist for the Center for Responsible Lending, said in a press release. "What's worse is car dealers are not even required to disclose marked up interest rates to buyers under state law."

In a report called "Car Trouble" published Thursday, the group describes practices it calls dealer kickbacks, loan packing and "yo-yo scams," Bruce Siceloff reports.

Rep. Dan Blue of Wake County has sponsored a bill aimed at the practices, while auto dealers said the report was misleading.

More after the jump.

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The legislature will again consider buying more efficient cars.

A proposal to wean state government off of gas-guzzlers has resurfaced and car dealers who helped kill it last time say they'll stay neutral.

The bill would require the state Department of Administration give preference to cars in the top 15 percent of their class for fuel economy. Police cars and ambulances would be exempt.

The N.C. Automobile Dealers Association, which opposed the bill last year, opposed a similar bill that would have mandated that the state buy more efficient cars, but it will remain neutral as long as the state only prefers them.

"It's just like night and day," said Rep. Pricey Harrison, a Greensboro Democrat who sponsored the bill. (AC-T)

A record $22 million was spent lobbying the state in 2007.

According to data compiled by the nonpartisan Democracy North Carolina, nearly 900 businesses, trade associations and nonprofits lobbied state officials in 2007, the last long session of the state legislature.

That amounts to nearly $125,000 for each of the 170 legislators.

The $19.5 million in compensation for individual lobbyists was $5 million more than reported in 2005, but executive director Bob Hall said that may be because we know more.

"That big a jump is largely due to the state's new ethics law that requires more groups to file more complete reports about more of their activities," he said.

The top lobbying groups were the N.C. Association of Realtors, which reported spending $972,384 on six lobbyists and other expenses; Land for Tomorrow, $403,092 on three lobbyists; and the N.C. Automobile Dealers Association, $287,959 on four lobbyists.

The highest-paid lobbyists were former state Sen. Steve Metcalf of Asheville, who reported $485,362 in compensation; former Secretary of State Rufus Edmisten, $396,764; and Alexander "Sandy" Sands of Womble Carlyle, $325,055.

Bill Daughtridge raised $150,870 by the end of 2007.

The Republican candidate for state treasurer raised $136,690 from larger donors, including Captive Aire president Bob Luddy, attorney Brent Barringer and petroleum marketer Rober Airey, according to a campaign finance report filed with the State Board of Elections today.

He also raised $930 from donors who gave less than $50, and $11,250 from political action committees, including the N.C. Automobile Dealers Association, the N.C. Restaurant Association and the N.C. Home Builders Association.

He also received $1,000 donations from the campaigns of state Rep. Danny McComas and former Rep. John Sauls. 

At the same time, Daughtridge spent $192,288 on office supplies, consulting, fundraisers, campaign signs and ad production.

That left him with $78,934 in cash on hand at the end of the year.