* Labor unions trying to shape the nation's health-reform debate have poured millions of dollars into the campaign coffers of North Carolina lawmakers in recent years.

Since 2003, unions have spent $3.4 million to elect allies from the Tar Heel state to the U.S. House and Senate. Nearly all of it has gone to Democrats.

North Carolina, a right-to-work state, has the second-lowest union representation and the lowest union membership rate in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

But key voting blocs, including state workers and many service workers, are represented by labor groups such as the Service Employees International Union, or SEIU. Labor groups have organized rallies, town hall meetings, phone banks and advertising in support of health-care reform.

Of the state's 13 House members, Democrat Brad Miller of Raleigh received the most union money — $588,000. (N&O)

* North Carolina community colleges leaders have drawn up a new policy that would allow illegal immigrants into the two-year colleges.

The state Board of Community Colleges' policy committee on Thursday drafted rules that would admit undocumented immigrants if they graduated from a U.S. high school. The students would have to pay out-of-state tuition rates and could not take a seat from students who are legal residents. (AP)

* Rank-and-file lawmakers will get their first look at the state budget proposal today. A key detail that has yet to emerge is how many state positions would be eliminated. (AP)

* The budget proposal forces local schools to do their own cutting and orders that they protect the classroom. (Tavern)

* Unions don't yet have much to show for a big push they made in the state during the last election cycle. (N&O)

* Lawyers are expected to argue today a motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed by news organizations against Gov. Mike Easley over the deletion of e-mail messages. (AP)

* Congress is on break, but the advertising and lobbying blitz over health care reform begins. (NYT)

North Carolinians trust the military and distrust Wall Street.

A recent survey by the Elon University Poll found that around 90 percent gave high marks to the military, small businesses, medical doctors and colleges and universities.

At least 75 percent gave high marks to the U.S. Supreme Court and public schools.

Around 70 percent also trusted organized religion and the White House.

Around 50 percent trusted law firms, banks, T.V. news, Congress and labor unions, though roughly equal numbers had no confidence in T.V. news, Congress, and labor unions.

The military scored the highest, with 3.9 percent saying they had no confidence, 25.8 percent saying they had some confidence, 68.8 percent saying they had a great deal of confidence and 1.4 percent saying they didn't know.

Wall Street did the worst, with 60.4 percent saying they had no confidence, 33.1 percent saying they had some confidence, 2.8 percent saying they had a great deal of confidence and 3.7 percent saying they didn't know.

The live survey of 356 North Carolina residents was conducted April 19-23. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 5.3 percentage points. 

Gov. Beverly Perdue helped Teamsters president James P. Hoffa dedicate a renovated union hall in Greensboro over the weekend.

The governor showed up for the dedication of the offices of Teamsters Local 391, which had been heavily damaged during storms last year, Rob Christensen reports.

Perdue told the 400 people attending the event about her visit to an unemployment office in Raleigh, where she chatted with people who have lost their jobs during the recession.

Perdue was elected last year with significant support from organized labor.

"Clearly the governor gets a lot of requests (for public appearances,)" said Rob Black, a spokesman for Local 391. "The fact that she honored the Teamsters is testament that we have worked with her since since her days in the state Senate. Our working relationship goes back a long way."

In an historical footnote, Hoffa’s father, former Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa, dedicated the grand opening of the building in 1962.

Few senators have been the focus of such strong lobbying on the labor-backed card check off buill than U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan.

But the North Carolina Democrat said she still supports the legislation that would make it easier for labor unions to organize workers, Rob Christensen reports.

"We need to level the playing field for working families in this country," Hagan said in an interview.

"Currently," Hagan said, "I do not think the votes are there to pass the bill. There are alot of compromises being looked at."

How should you title a bill on a controversial subject?

One strategy: Don't mention it.

Consider the following bill titles, all of which neatly pull the trick of sounding either positive or innocuous while avoiding mentioning their raison d'être:

The Healthy Youth Act: Puts most students in comprehensive sex ed classes, with an option for abstinence-only at parents' discretion.

Personal Protection in Restaurants: Allows people with concealed weapons permits to bring handguns into restaurants and bars.

Conform State Law to Lawrence v. Texas: Gets rid of state statutes, since found unconstitutional, that prohibit gay sex.

Repeal Ban G.S. 95-99: Allows state government employees to join a union and collectively negotiate their contracts.

Defense of Marriage: Puts a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in North Carolina up for a referendum.

Note the words "guns," "homosexuality," "sex education" or "unions" don't appear in any of the above, or any other bills filed this session, for that matter.

Reps. Paul Luebke and Ty Harrell support $483 million coming into the state's economy.

That figure was the centerpiece of a news conference the Democrats held Tuesday to express their support for the Employee Free Choice Act, also known as the card check bill.

Luebke and Harrell said in what is sure to be a polarizing claim that if 5 percent more of the state's workers were in unions, they would earn $483 million more in wages, assuming that union workers make eight percent. Those workers would then have more money to spend in the economy.

"We are always happy to have more people working and working at higher wages," said Luebke, of Durham.

The estimates on new wages come from a study by the Center for American Progress Action Fund. The center is a liberal think tank that supports the card check bill.

* N.C. Change to Win head Willie Carey takes exception to a Dome item, says the AFL-CIO endorsed Sen. Kay Hagan before she backed card check.

* NoMoreGillNets.org has a billboard on Interstate 40 calling lack of wildlife enforcement on gill nets "another black eye for N.C. politics."

* Rep. Pricey Harrison introduces bill that would ban N.C. power companies from buying coal obtained via mountaintop mining in other states.

* Charlotte Observer columnist Jack Betts says the smoking ban has a good chance of passing, notes Rep. Marian McLawhorn is now in favor.

DEPRESSING STIMULANT: Gov. Beverly Perdue said the federal stimulus package is still about $150 million short. She plans to use $780 million from the feds to patch the state's $2 billion budget hole, with longtime go-to guy Dempsey Benton overseeing the state's spending. Still, she's going to have to dig a little deeper.

HEALTH PLAN BAILOUT?: Smoking and overeating could get more expensive for state employees. A proposal to keep the state health plan solvent would force smokers and the obese to enroll in the costliest coverage option. Pass the Nicorette and hold the donuts, please.

BAD NEWS FOR STUDENTS: The escheats fund sounds like something that would get you kicked out of school. But it actually helps students go — for now. State Treasurer Janet Cowell warned that the little-known fund for forgotten insurance policies and utility deposits is running dry, which could mean cuts to college scholarships it pays for.

CARD CHECK ... PLEASE? U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan may now have to pay her union dues. Although known as a pro-business Democrat in the legislature, she won labor's backing to the tune of $200,000 last year after pledging to support a "card check" bill that would make unionization easier. Now her vote in Congress could prove crucial to the bill's chances.

IN OTHER NEWS: Perdue's son, Garrett, joins Raleigh law firm as a lobbyist. Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge, Rice and Perdue? Nah, too long. ... The head of the N.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association says it will not oppose a smoking ban as written. Look for tobacco lobbyists to try to change the ban's wording. ... Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton didn't get his extra $63 a day for acting as governor while Perdue was on vacation, according to the state controller. No word on whether he turned down tips too.

Sen. Kay Hagan is at the center of a fight over unions.

The Greensboro Democrat is being lobbied by organized labor to keep a campaign promise to support a bill that would make it easier for unions toorganize. But she's also facing a concerted effort by a coalition fo businesses and small-government groups against it.

In an interview, Hagan said she will support the Employee Free Choice Act, also known as the card check bill.

"I campaigned and said all along that it allows the employees to make the choice," she said. "I also think it will help level the playing field."

Business groups have already hired two Raleigh political consulting firms and TV and radio ads are expected. Americans for Prosperity held rallies in Greensboro and Raleigh.

Organized labor gave at least $200,000 to Hagan during her campaign, who had a reputation as a pro-business Democrat in the state Senate. (N&O)