Last week House Speaker Joe Hackney defended his plans to spend some of the week at the National Conference of State Legislatures summit in Philadelphia.

Hackney was one of 10 lawmakers, all Democrats, from the state to register for the summit. Four legislative staff members were registered to go, according to the legislature's controller's office. The state would pay registration, $499 to $625, depending on when the attendee registered. Members were to pay their other expenses.

But on Monday, many on the list to go were not in Philadelphia. Like Hackney, members may move back and forth or just go later in the week, officials said.

The members signed up to go are:

Senate: Dan Blue (D-Raleigh), Charlie Dannelly (D-Charlotte), Katie Dorsett (D-Greensboro), Tony Foriest (D-Graham), Ed Jones (D-Halifax County).

House: Rick Glazier (D-Fayetteville), Hackney (D-Orange County), Phillip Haire (D-Sylva), Larry Hall (D-Durham), Bill Owens (D-Elizabeth City) 

Previously: Expenses minimal for NCSL trip to New Orleans. 

The House voted for a bill that seeks to stop pay-to-play in state government.

The bill says that if a company does work for a state agency, an elected head of that agency cannot take campaign contributions from that company's officers while that contract is active. 

Rep. Rick Glazier, a Fayetteville Democrat, said the bill is based on pay-to-play statutes in other states.

Rep. Phillip Haire, a Sylva Democrat, said he was worried that officials could unknowingly accept such a contribution.

"I think the recipient of the money is being put in a terrible situation with this language," Haire said.

The House voted for bills meant to encourage people to use a defibrillator in an emergency and to ensure Crime Stoppers tips are confidential. The defibrillator bill goes onto the Senate.

Members said they had serious concerns about the Crime Stoppers bill and it will have to be heard tomorrow.

HB 1433: Grants limited immunity from liability lawsuits for people, trained or not, who attempt to save a person in crisis with a portable automatic defibrillator. The bill needed little debate in the House chamber.

Earlier in the session, Rep. Bob England, a physician, used one of the devices to help Rep. Becky Carney, who was having a heart problem.

"We must do what we can to make sure that anyone willing to act as a Good Samaritan has the courage to step forward," said Rep. Alice Bordsen, a Mebane Democrat.

HB 1287: The bill states that the identify of people providing tips to Crime Stoppers is not a public record and is not subject to disclosure in court proceedings.

Reps. Phillip Haire and Rick Glazier said they were concerned the bill could be unconstitutional because of the provisions dealing with court discovery. The bill is expected to be discussed again Wednesday. 

The House voted for a bill Wednesday that would require lawyers to disclose to a judge that a previous judge had rejected a plea bargain.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Tim Moore, a Shelby Republican, would write into law something many lawyers already believe is a matter of good ethical practice, Moore said. The bill arose out of a particular case in which a judge accepted the same plea that a previous judge has rejected.

"What is really boils down to is avoiding the gaming of the system," Moore said.

Moore said pleas are most often rejected because judges believe they are too lienient.

Rep. Phillip Haire, a Sylva Democrat, said the bill was unnecessary because judges could always just ask lawyers if another judge has already rejected a plea.

"We don't need to put this in the statute," Haire said. "Put the burden back on the judge."

The bill is likely to be amended before it moves to the Senate. Rep. Darren Jackson, a Raleigh Democrat, suggested that the burden should only apply to the prosecutor, since the defense lawyer's duty is to do what's best for his or her client.

Tonight will see the N.C. General Assembly — the NCGA? — play its own version of the March Madness sweeping college basketball.

The game will be in Columbia, S.C.

Rep. Phil Haire, a Sylva Democrat, organized this year's lineup, a bipartisan squad known more for passing bills than basketballs.

House Chaplain Jim Harry accurately summarized the pre-game mood when he called upon a higher power to be with the North Carolina squad.

"Please remind them they're not 20-year-olds running up and down the court," Harry intoned.

More after the jump.

   Comments (0)

The House made its committee assignments Wednesday.

The first two weeks of the session have been mostly uneventful as members attended budget and revenue briefings. Behind the scenes, members have been jockeying for committee assignments and chairmanships.

Speaker Joe Hackney appointed chairmen and chairwomen Wednesday, and the speaker handed out new wooden gavels to each committee head.

In the House, Rep. Mickey Michaux, a Durham Democrat will remain a senior budget writer. Other chairs of the Appropriations Committee include: Reps. Alma Adams, Greensboro; Martha Alexander, Charlotte; Jim Crawford, Oxford; Phillip Haire, Sylva; Maggie Jeffus, Greensboro; Joe Tolson, Pinetops; Douglas Yongue, Laurinburg. All are Democrats.