The Department of Transportation, which has laid off temporary workers and is trimming its budget, paid more than $1,000 last weekend to send one of its managers to an executive networking conference at a resort hotel in Pinehurst.

Shelton Russell, director of workforce opportunity and development for the department, attended a conference organized by the N.C. Institute for Minority Economic Development.

The Transportation Department paid a $1,000 registration fee for him to attend. His room at the Manor – "a sportsman's lodge" – in Pinehurst is listed as $127, about double the usual state rate for hotels.

Russell initially filed a registration form indicating he would take advantage of the tennis function on Saturday, though at a beginner level. A subsequent registration form, though, left the tennis section blank.

The conference, which began Thursday, is billed as "bringing together minority business entrepreneurs and corporate decision makers."

The event, however, comes after the Transportation Department has laid off 1,200 temporary workers who typically do pothole filling, drainpipe clearing and grass cutting alongside roadways.

DOT Communications Director Greer Beaty said providing technical assistance and training to companies owned by minorities, women and the disabled will help them survive the recession, something that is central to the mission of Russell's office.

That office was created to help such businesses compete for DOT contracts.

"Making sure that all businesses in North Carolina have the same access to, and are able to take advantage of, the opportunities before them should be part of everyone's mission," Beaty said.

Gov. Beverly Perdue is instructing state agencies to cut spending.

After signing an executive order on the budget Tuesday, Perdue announced today the specifics steps she will ask state officials to take to balance the budget: 

* Cut spending by seven percent. This is an additional two percent above the cuts already ordered by Gov. Mike Easley.

* Stop any purchases of goods or services unless specifically approved by a department head. This does not apply to equipment or materials needed for classrooms.

* Suspend travel and training except for public safety, public health, job requirements, economic development  or emergency situations. Exceptions must be approved by department heads.

* Put on hold any pay-as-you-go appropriations for capital improvement and repair and renovation projects.

* Do not fill any vacant positions unless a prior commitment has been made. Department heads can approve filling vacancies as an "extraordinary exception."

"The global recession has forced our state to make tough financial decisions," Perdue said in a statement.

Gov. Mike Easley is on the road this week, but he won't say exactly why.

Easley took a state jet to Philadelphia yesterday for an economic summit with President-elect Barack Obama and other governors.

According to publicly available flight records, the Cessna Citation twin-jet plane left Philadelphia International at 1:33 p.m. for Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.

After a three-hour layover, the plane was scheduled to go to Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., arriving later tonight. A flight plan filed with the N.C. Department of Commerce, also a public record, shows the plane won't leave Florida until 1 p.m. on Thursday.

Although the flight records are widely available on the Internet and through public records, spokeswoman Renee Hoffman would not discuss Easley's travel plans "for security reasons" and gave only a vague answer about his reasons for stopping in Washington and Florida.

"I can tell you that the governor is on a business trip to make a speech and attend a meeting," she said in an e-mail to Dome.

The flight plan shows Easley is traveling with executive counsel Ruffin Poole and a sergeant from the N.C. Highway Patrol.

Pat McCrory and his wife flew to Paris in 2000 with tickets given by an airline.

A recent TV ad by the Alliance for North Carolina notes that the Republican gubernatorial candidate "accepted free travel to Paris for himself and his wife," citing a April 14, 2000, story in the Charlotte Observer.

The article notes that the McCrorys flew first-class to Paris compliments of U.S. Airways for a two-week trip that combined a trade mission to France and Germany with a vacation.

The couple then paid for their own tickets to Italy for a vacation, and the airline paid for their flight back from Italy. McCrory noted in the article that the return flight would have cost the same whether it was from Rome or Paris.

He was not the only public official to get the perk. U.S. Airways also flew then-Gov. Jim Hunt and a state trooper to France for the trade mission for free. Expenses for other state officials on the trip were paid for by the state.

"This trip was not a frivolous use of taxpayer dollars (i.e. there were no limos or $60 hamburgers for Gov. Hunt, Mayor McCrory, or their spouses) and it was approved by the city attorney," noted McCrory spokeswoman Amy Auth in an e-mail to Dome. "Every one of Pat's travel records were released to the media during his tenure as mayor."

It was a week for follow-ups.

The most-read posts on Under the Dome from last Sunday to noon Friday included several updates on news items from the recent past.

1. The Eason Ultimatum? The N.C. Department of Agriculture says it never threatened the job of a staffer who refused to lower the flag, though an e-mail said he might be fired. Is that a penultimatum?

2. Billions and Billions. The N.C. Senate signs off on a $21.4 billion budget that includes more than $850 million in capital construction projects. We'd settle for a rounding error.

3. Roman Holiday. N.C. Commerce secretary Jim Fain billed the state only $1,218 for his part of a state trip to Italy in April. Heck, some people spend almost that much to see the Russian ballet.

4. You Never Call Anymore. Nearly five million North Carolina phone numbers have been placed on the federal "Do Not Call" registry since it started. Now, can we do something about our e-mail spam?

5. About Schmidt. Gov. Mike Easley's office is looking into the rehiring of a Department of Transportation employee who was fired after a racial confrontation. We have nothing funny to say about that.

Department of Commerce Secretary Jim Fain billed frugally while he was in Italy.

Fain's expense report for his time in Italy shows he only billed the state $1,218 for expenses he incurred in the country in April as part of a business and tourism recruiting delegation. Fain's expenses billed to taxpayers were typically less than the amount billed by other members of the delegation. Gov. Mike Easley and his wife, Mary Easley were in Italy for the trip.

The bill from Fain and four state troopers along for security were not included in the $170,000 tab previously reported because the paperwork wasn't made available in time for the story. The new bills, including a $17,573 charge for four airline tickets for the troopers, total $30,538. For those counting, that puts the total cost of the trip to Italy right around $200,000.

The trip raised a few eyebrows for some of the expenses, such as $50,000 for two vehicles and a driver for the first couple. One lunch in Rome cost an average of $90 per person. Mary Easley was also a member of delegations that went to France and Russia at a cost to taxpayers of more than $109,000.

More after the jump.

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Mike Easley's having a rough year.

In his last year in office, he seems to be spending as much time trying to defend himself from public controversy as keeping the state out of a budget shortfall.

"I've referred to it as the quack of the lame duck," joked Senate Minority Leader Phil Berger.

Easley has been blamed for problems with the state's mental health reform, destroying public e-mails and taking expensive trips overseas. He's also had to defend his wife's $80,000 pay raise. 

His achievements, including the state lottery, More at Four and alternative highs chools, may be overshadowed when he leaves office, and controversy gives the state Republican Party ammunition in its bid for the Executive Mansion.

"They say first impressions count, but when you're going out of office, last impressions can last a long time," notes Democratic consultant Gary Pearce. (AP)

The state's first couple were much in the news this week.

The most-read posts on Under the Dome from last Sunday to noon Friday touched on the activities Gov. Mike Easley and his wife. Also, a certain fictional sheriff and the presidential candidates he may or may not have supported.

1. Hail Mary: N.C. State University gives First Lady Mary Easley a promotion and a $79,000 raise. Or, about one and a half trips to Estonia.

2. McCarolina?: Republican presidential nominee John McCain leads Democrat Barack Obama, 45 to 41 in a poll. Time for another pickup game at UNC?

3. Straight Shooter: The same poll shows voters think the sheriff of Mayberry would vote for McCain and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beverly Perdue. But how would Matlock vote?

4. Bestest Governor: The National Education Association names Easley "America's Greatest Education Governor." Now, about those teacher pay raises...

5. Berger's Beef: Senate minority leader Phil Berger says the Easleys' trips overseas "raise questions" about their judgment. Next time, bring back a T-shirt for him.

State workers can typically spend up to $19 on dinner.

Under the state's official travel policy in 2007, employees on official business are "expected to exercise the same care in incurring expenses that a prudent person would exercise if traveling on personal business."

The policy includes a schedule of expenses that will be reimbursed for out-of-state trips: $7.50 for breakfast, $9.75 for lunch, $19 for dinner and $75.50 for lodging per day.

In addition, it notes that "excessive tips" will not be reimbursed, though it does not give specific guidelines for tipping.

For overseas trips, the policy allows for business-class tickets and more spending on meals, although it does not give exact guidelines on the latter.

"No excess reimbursement will be allowed for meals unless there are predetermined charges, or the meals were for out-of-country travel," it says.

The travel policy begins on page 129.

How much is a cheeseburger in Europe?

At a press conference this morning, Gov. Mike Easley argued that a cheeseburger and onion rings cost $60 overseas. It's not clear which country he meant, but he was talking about his trip to Italy at the time.

"Let's be honest about it, a cheeseburger and onion rings is $60 over there," he said. "The dollar is very, very weak now."

According to this thread, a cheeseburger at McDonald's currently costs 6.5 Euros in Italy. At today's exchange rates, that's about $10.25.

Meantime, The Insider notes in its afternoon update that a Big Mac costs about 4.9 Euros in Paris, or $7.74 at current exchange rates.

"Of course, those Paris waiters, even at McDonald's, can get pretty pushy about their tips," they write.