Sen. Tony Rand hasn't run through a detailed explanation of why he's quitting the Senate.

Rand leads the Democratic majority in the Senate and Senate Republican leader Phil Berger wonders if the Senate is getting too liberal for Rand, a Fayetteville Democrat. Dome's Mark Johnson reports that Rand's departure follows the growth of a liberal wing among Senate Democrats.

A leftward shift in the Democratic caucus that controls the Senate made his role as majority leader more difficult. A growing coalition of more liberal Democrats in the Senate helped push through laws this year that allow more comprehensive sex education, specifically protect gay students from bullying and allow death penalty challenges based on race.

"Sen. Rand increasingly found his views at odds with his more liberal Democratic colleagues, and that may have led to this decision," said Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger of Eden.

This explanation is helpful to Senate Republicans, who are eager to paint the Democratic majority as way out left and out of touch with state residents in advance of the coming legislative elections next year.

Dome can see the campaign ad now: "The Senate: Too liberal for Tony Rand."

Gov. Beverly Perdue says she is happy with her transportation secretary's efforts to take politics out of road building.

Dome asked the governor, through a spokeswoman, to respond to calls from Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger to have Transportation Board member Lanny Wilson withdraw from board business.

Wilson testified during a State Board of Elections hearing that he wrote checks to the N.C. Democratic Party that he believed would be forwarded on to former Gov. Mike Easley's campaign.

Perdue did not comment on Wilson specifically, but said Transportation Secretary Gene Conti was succeeding in removing politics from the department's decisions.

"The governor continues to move toward a more transparent state government, and she commends Secretary Conti for all he has done with the DOT and its Board to take politics out of the planning and decision making processes," said Chrissy Pearson, a spokeswoman for Perdue.

Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger said Senate Republicans intend to advance a slate of legislation meant to curb campaign corruption.

Berger said he was happy to hear a suggestion from State Board of Elections chairman Larry Leake that candidates be held personally liable for fines issued by the board.

I applaud the State Board of Elections for their service and investigation into the former Governor’s administration and campaigns.  Their suggestions about campaign finance reform are welcome as Senate Republicans will soon offer comprehensive legislation to address corruption in campaigns.  The $100,000 levied against the Mike Easley Committee and referral of evidence to the Wake County District Attorney were necessary and appropriate steps to take.  The information uncovered in these hearings will undoubtedly be helpful as state and federal authorities continue their investigations.  At some point the people of North Carolina will have the full truth about this sad episode.

Senate Republican leader Phil Berger said Thursday that Board of Transportation member and fundraiser Lanny Wilson should not participate in board activities while state and federal investigations continue.

Wilson was a fundraiser for former Gov. Mike Easley and Gov. Beverly Perdue, who reappointed Wilson to the transportation board.

Wilson testified this week that he wrote and solicited large checks for the N.C. Democratic Party that were intended for Easley's benefit.

Wilson also testified that he gave his fiance money to give to Easley, which would appear to violate a law prohibiting giving in the name of another person.

When she took office, Perdue demanded that her transportation board members adhere to the highest ethical standards.

"Mike Easley appointed campaign fundraisers and high dollar donors to powerful state positions including the Board of Transportation; so has Governor Perdue," Berger said.

"In order to avoid the appearance that the Perdue administration’s approach to ethics is a continuation of Easley policies, Governor Perdue should ask Mr. Wilson to step aside until the legal issues surrounding his fundraising activities are resolved. It is past time to break the cycle of corruption in state government."

A political tip: If you're going to send something to the governor's office, you better know what's in it.

Like, say, a check.

Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger showed off a wheelbarrow full of "Conservative Voter Surveys" Tuesday that he said reflected lots of anger and frustration with Democrats.

As Dome previously noted, the survey questions were written to stir up anger and possible Republican campaign contributions. We're guessing Berger never imagined the governor's staff would bother to read them. He was wrong.

Perdue spokeswoman Chrissy Pearson, responding to a request from Dome, said she had skimmed about a third of the 3,000 or so surveys. She noted comments written to the Republican party included:

"I am embarrassed to be associated with this organization. Your tactics are disgusting and you're going to lose a generation of voters."

And then there was the check. A staff member found a $50 campaign contribution made out to Berger tucked in the surveys, which were, after all, a fundraising ploy.

That brings us to political tip number two: If you get a check, cash it.

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Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger delivered a big ol mess of opinion surveys to the governor's office Tuesday.

The answers included on the "Conservative Voter Survey," sent to prospective Republican voters are likely the least surprising thing in state politics. Berger showed off the surveys in a wheelbarrow. Here's a sample of the questions.

Do you think death panels made up of government bureaucrats should decide if your loved ones live or die?

On Dome's sample, the respondent said "yes," so we're glad we're not kin.

Do you oppose Bev Perdue and the Democrats' plan to pass a job-killing $1.6 billion dollar [sic] tax increase in the middle of a recession?

Well, when you put it like that. Also, the tax increase was $1 billion for the coming fiscal year.

Update: Post adds context on the size of the tax increase.

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Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger says that state employees will remain ethical if the consequence for breaches is a loss of their pensions.

Berger, an Eden Republican, said in a news release Friday that he intends to introduce a bill that would do just that. Berger issued his release the day after Gov. Beverly Perdue, a Democrat, banned gifts to state employees in her administration.

Berger said public corruption is a consequence of the fact that Democrats have dominated state politics for years. Berger, who is helping lead a Republican charge to win legislative seats, took pains not to offend state employees with his pitch.

"I plan to introduce legislation requiring any state employee convicted of taking illegal gifts or other corruption related charges to forfeit their pension, just like elected officials.  99.9 percent of state employees are working hard for the people of this state and they do not deserve to have their reputations ruined by the few who are not doing the right thing," Berger said.

Senate Republican leader Phil Berger said Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue's business recruiting trip to New York doesn't make any sense.

Berger, an Eden Republican, said in a news release that Democratic policies, such as a recent tax increase, will eliminate plenty of jobs.

"Governor Perdue continues her erratic behavior this week going on a corporate recruiting trip after she did everything in her power during the last legislative session to make it more difficult to do business and find a job in North Carolina," Berger said. "Democratic policymakers continue the tax-and-spend economic policy that is killing jobs in North Carolina. Do they really hope to draw new businesses from outside our state? Until Democrats reverse course, reduce state government spending, and provide tax relief to businesses and families, North Carolina will continue to see jobs leave."

Democrats, including Perdue, have said the tax increase of nearly $1 billion was necessary to avoid painful cuts to vital state services.

State Republicans have decided to direct outrage over the decision to admit illegal immigrants into the community colleges toward Gov. Beverly Perdue.

Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger and state Republican chairman Tom Fetzer have issued statements that seek to accuse Perdue of reversing herself on the issue.

"Despite her repeated claims that she opposes this policy, the Governor’s appointees voted nearly unanimously to enact the policy. This is yet another example of Gov. Perdue’s lack of leadership and peculiar priorities," Fetzer said in his statement.

Perdue says that not only has she not changed her mind, she has told the board members of her opposition to allowing undocumented students into the colleges. 

"Each individual board member clearly understood her views," said Perdue spokeswoman Chrissy Pearson.

Perdue appoints 10 of the board's 21 members. Earlier this week, another state agency, the Building Code Council, voted not to lessen a code requirement for a special circuit breaker after Perdue expressed support for the devices.

When asked if there would be consequences for the Community College board members who changed the policy, Pearson said, "The governor believes the consequences will occur when the General Assembly reconvenes."