What does "rush the growler" mean?

After Dome referenced the name used by the N.C. Beer and Wine Wholesalers Asssociation for its annual party, a reader e-mailed to dispute our definition.

In the post, we said the "growler" was a jug or pail used for moonshine which was "rushed" by the crowd when it showed up at a party.

But retired engineer John O'Connor of Raleigh said his wife heard a definition from her parents' friend that dated back to the early 1900s in Boston.

That definition, also given by this linguistics Web site, holds that the "growler" was a pitcher that was taken to a local tavern to buy beer, often by children.

"Rushing the growler," then, was to tell the child to hurry to the bar and back and may have denoted that the rusher, as it were, was an alcoholic.

No one agrees on where the term "growler" comes from, however. 

Garrett Perdue has been spotted again. 

The son of Gov. Beverly Perdue was seen Wednesday at the 19th annual "Rush the Growler" party sponsored by the N.C. Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association.

The event is well attended by legislators, former legislators, staffers and lobbyists at the association's headquarters on Person Street behind the Governor's mansion.

What is "Rush the Growler"? During Prohibition, the "growler" was the jug or pail where they put the moonshine. When the person carrying the growler showed up at the party, it was rushed by the crowd.

Garrett Perdue is a lobbyist with Womble Carlyle, the state's largest law firm. Although he's been seen at the legislature and the N.C. Chamber's annual meeting, he and his firm have said he does not engage in state lobbying.

Only one out of eight state lobbyists reported any expenses in 2007.

According to a compilation of lobbyist expense forms, only 78 lobbyists reported spending any money on transportation, entertainment, dining, meetings or gifts last year. Another 526 lobbyists reported zero expenses during the same time.

Under lobbying laws effective Jan. 1, 2007, lobbyists must file reports with the N.C. Secretary of State on a quarterly basis noting the "fair market value" of any money spent on behalf of a client.

However, few lobbyists write much on the forms, which are filed separately for each client. Of the 93 expense forms with anything listed, 33 were for $100 or less. Only 15 forms listed more than $500 in expenses.

In all, the lobbyists reported spending $46,091, with roughly 60 percent of the money going toward transportation and lodging. Another $13,353 was reported as spent on food and beverages.

The single largest expense was $9,206 by lobbyist Gordon Myers for The Facility Group. He reported spending the money on travel and a conference.

Lobbyist Peter Gilmore reported spending $7,500 on behalf of the Dole Food Co. to sponsor a Farm Day.

And lobbyist Roger Bone reported spending $500 a piece for nine clients on the N.C. Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association's annual "Rush the Growler" party for legislators, Council of State members and their staffs.

Richard Moore received $105,965 from political action committees since 2005.

According to campaign finance reports filed since his 2004 re-election as state treasurer, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate received donations from 45 PACs.

He received $4,000 apiece from ACS, Bank of America, BB&T, Wachovia, Central Carolina Radioloigsts, Coca-Cola, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Harnett Citizens PAC, Kennedy Covington, the N.C. Hospital Association, Replacements Ltd., Southeastern Radiology Organization, the Nationwide Carolina Political Participation Fund, the National Good Government Fund.

He received $3,965 from the Pike Electric PAC, $3,500 from the Capital Area Radiologic Association, $3,000 apiece from Corning employees' PAC and Genworth Financial, and $2,200 from Piedmont Stone Center.

He received $2,000 from the Ashland/APAC North Carolina PAC, CCHTA, GlaxoSmithKline, the N.C. Automobile Dealers Association, the N.C. Realtors Association, Pfizer, Sandhills Anesthesiologists, PBSJ Corp., the South Financial Group, United Health Services and Wal-Mart. 

He received $1,500 from Piedmont Natural Gas.

Other donors included Duke Energy, First Citizens Bank, Marqim, the N.C. Association of Convenience Stores, Smithfield Foods, the N.C. Bar Association and the N.C. Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association. 

Walter Dalton received $88,750 from political action committees in 2007.

According to his mid-year and end-of-year campaign finance reports, the candidate for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor received money from 53 different PACs.

The top donors, who gave $4,000 each: Bank of America, Wachovia Bank, Progress Energy, R.J. Reynolds, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Duke Energy.

Blue Cross Blue Shield gave $3,500 and the Dominion energy company gave $3,000.

Dalton also received $2,000 donations from the N.C. Farm Bureau Federation, the N.C. Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association, the N.C. Automobile Dealers Association, Southeast Anesthesiology Consultants and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

Other notable PAC donations came from Kerr Drug, Coca-Cola and Pepsi, the Carolina Asphalt Pavement Association and Time-Warner Cable.

Note: This list does not include money from other political campaigns.