Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, a Chapel Hill Democrat, has joined the ranks of those calling for an investigation of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina's recent mailing.

Just weeks after raising its premiums, the insurer mailed flyers that encouraged recipients to send the attached postcard to U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan encouraging her to oppose a health care reform proposal in Congress to create a government run health plan.

Kinnaird asked Attorney General Roy Cooper and Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin to examine whether the insurer violated the state's "do not call" registry or the restrictions on political activity by nonprofits, of which BCBS is one.

Other public officials, including Pitt County commissioners, have made similar requests for an inquiry.

N.C. Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin helped push the candidacy of newly-elected Rep. Chris Heagarty, of Raleigh.

In the days leading up to Saturday's vote for Heagarty, Goodwin signed on to a mail piece endorsing him (click the link below), as did two legislators, and the brochure was distributed to Democratic Party leaders in the 41st district. Ty Harrell resigned that seat in September amid a campaign finance investigation. Under the law, leaders from the outgoing lawmaker's party pick his or her successor.

Goodwin and Heagarty are both Democrats, as are Rep. Pricey Harrison, of Greensboro, and Rosa Gill, of Raleigh, who also appeared in the brochure. Goodwin was on the board of the N.C. Center for Voter Education for two of the seven years that Heagarty was director, and the two are good enough friends that they were at each other's weddings.

Heagarty also was aided by an endorsement from Wake County teachers.

State Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin is planning to escape a simulated fire at his Raleigh home.

As the top insurance official, Goodwin is also the state fire marshal, and apparently an action hero, by elected-official standards.

Goodwin and his 7-year-old daughter Madison will demonstrate the correct way to escape a house fire. Simulated smoke will provide realistic conditions. The fake fire will start Monday and reporters are encouraged to attend and film the action.

The idea is to encourage state residents to develop a plan to escape home fires. Oct. 7 is the annual statewide fire drill. Goodwin seems to have learned a flair for the dramatic from his predecessor, the late Jim Long, who was known for blowing stuff up with fireworks as a way to demonstrate the danger of fireworks.

State Rep. Melanie Wade Goodwin has announced she will not seek a fourth term in the House.

The Hamlet Democrat announced her decision in a statement published on a blog run by her husband, Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin.

Making my decision now allows others in Richmond and Montgomery counties who are interested in public service the time to weigh the very sizable commitment of personal and professional time, as well as resources, that it takes to be a member of the North Carolina General Assembly.

My decision also allows me to spend more time with my young children, and to focus on other personal goals and priorities in my life.

The Senate gave overwhelming support Monday night to a bill that would require a permit from the State Fire Marshall to issue a permit for fireworks displays.

The bill is in response to a fatal accident July 4 in which four men were killed and a fifth injured on Ocracoke Island.

"It is imperative for us to reflect and see how we can learn from tragedies," said Sen. Don Davis, a Snow Hill Democrat. "There is a need for us to bring more clarity."

Davis said current law allows a county commission to authorize an "expert" to run fireworks displays.

"When we look at the word 'expert,' I think that becomes the matter of much subjectivity," Davis said.

More after the jump.

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Elaine Marshall will also take a voluntary pay cut.

In a press release today, the secretary of state said she would ask that her annual salary be reduced by half a percent, in line with cuts proposed by Gov. Beverly Perdue.

"This is a significant step toward making hard choices to balance the State Budget," she said. "It affects all of us, including myself. I have taken the steps necessary to ensure the pay reduction applies to me as well."

Under state law, Perdue does not have the authority to reduce the pay of Council of State members such as Marshall.

Schools Superintendent June Atkinson and state Supreme Court Chief Justice Sarah Parker have also volunteered for a pay cut.

Update: Marshall and Atkinson's pay cuts are worth about $616 a year.

Second Update: Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin has also volunteered.

"Balancing our state’s budget will not be an easy task, and I certainly want to do my part in supporting my employees at the Department of Insurance and this portion of the state budget solution," he said in a statement.

Third Update: A spokeswoman for the governor says that all of the members of the Council of State and elected judges will take the cut.

Every state politician who submitted a bracket won.

Since the six state politicians — and President Obama — picked Carolina to win the NCAA championship, they all get points.

Still, they all got the No. 2 team wrong, choosing either Louisville, Memphis or Connecticut to also make it to the final game, instead of Michigan State.

Their bracket scores (out of 193):

Gov. Beverly Perdue: 135
Secretary of State Elaine Marshall: 134
Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin: 124
Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton: 121
Sen. Richard Burr: 118
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler: 64

Obama and Sen. Kay Hagan also picked Carolina to win.

The brackets are in.

After the success of last year's gubernatorial March Madness, we at Dome asked all of North Carolina's statewide elected officials to submit brackets.

Several turned them in, while others said they ran out of time.

* Gov. Beverly Perdue picked Carolina over Louisville, 88-81, in the men's tournament, and Carolina over Connecticut, 84-83, in the women's tournament.

* U.S. Sen. Richard Burr picked Carolina over Memphis, 84-78, in the men's tournament.

* Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton picked Carolina over Memphis, 92-84, in the men's tournament.

* Secretary of State Elaine Marshall picked Carolina over Connecticut, 86-81, in the men's tournament.

* Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler picked Pittsburgh over Memphis, 72-68, in the men's tournament.

* Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin picked Carolina over Louisville, 84-81, in the men's tournament.

Previously: Obama picks Carolina over Louisville.

Correction: Perdue's bracket picks from last year were mistakenly listed in an earlier version of this post.

Update: In radio interviews today, Sen. Kay Hagan picked Carolina, Wake Forest, Duke and Connecticut for the Final Four, with the Tar Heels winning the championship.

The heads of the departments of Insurance and Administration are teaming up their staffs to save money and speed up construction projects.

State officials project the new arrangement could save $1.4 million on every $100 million in construction.

About 15 experts from the Insurance Department's plan review office will move into the state construction office so that the two agencies can more efficiently review construction plans funded by new federal stimulus money, said Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin. He signed a memorandum of understanding this morning with the Department of Administration's Chief Operating Officer, Kevin McLaughlin, whose department includes the construction office.

As commissioner, Goodwin also serves as state fire marshal. He said the plan accelerates the construction work, which aids the slumping economy, but also ensures the safety of new construction.

"Our people need jobs," Goodwin said, "and to work and do business in buildings that are safe."

A number of top state Democrats are at Camp Lejeune.

Gov. Beverly Perdue, Speaker Joe Hackney and Secretary of State Elaine Marshall just arrived for a speech on the military by President Obama.

Perdue's chief lobbyist, Andy Willis, and spokeswoman, Chrissy Pearson, came with the group. U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan and Rep. David Price came separately.

The speech will be held at the Goettge Memorial Field House, which Marines use to play basketball, but there's not going to be a chance for the hoops-loving president to take any shots today.

Several hundred Marines are in folding chairs on the court floor, awaiting the president.

Update: U.S. Reps. Mike McIntyre, Brad Miller and Larry Kissell; Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin; Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand; and state Reps. Russell Tucker, Grier Martin and Alice Underhill are also here.

Second Update: Defense Secretary Robert Gates, National Security Adviser James L. Jones, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, Lt. Gen. Dennis Hejlik of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force and senior Obama advisor David Axelrod were also at the event.