Dome gets a lot of questions.
Why is there fencing around the state capitol? How much do state legislators make? Where can I find the text of a bill?
We don't mind. Often, we wish we'd thought of it ourselves.
So today, we're opening up the question line. Submit your question about how state or federal government works, what your political representatives are doing or what is up with an issue.
You can send the questions to dome@newsobserver.com or post them in the comments below.
We reserve the right to skip rhetorical questions or thinly veiled political attacks (e.g. "Why is Rep. So-and-So so dumb?").
Comments
Re: Ask the Dome
August 11, 2009 - 6:33am — kook123456Your website is very useful. Thanks for sharing Tiffany provides the best Tiffany & Co jewelry, including Necklaces, Pendants, Bracelets, Earrings, Rings at the lowest prices.
Do you know where one can find
February 17, 2009 - 8:14am — James_Protzmancounty by county divorce rates in NC
Re: Ask the Dome
February 4, 2009 - 2:20pm — ryanteaguebeckwith (author)Your answer is here.
— RTB
Re: Ask the Dome
February 2, 2009 - 9:38am — domewatcherSome years ago the Global Transpark "borrowed" some $25,000,000 from the NC Escheat Fund.
I am assuming it took a vote of the legislature as the Escheat Fund was not necessarily set up for loans. I may be mistaken but I thought the Escheat Fund was to fund the state school system?
What's the status of the loan since the state is in a budget shortfall? Wouldn't the schools like to have access to this $25,000,000?
Re: Ask the Dome
February 1, 2009 - 8:52pm — j1c2kpI think I will wait until around 2am to ask my question, maybe I will not be deleted. :) Sleep well.
Re: Ask the Dome
February 1, 2009 - 11:16am — ryanteaguebeckwith (author)Asked and answered. But to reiterate: I don't care what your politics or are what you are arguing for, just don't use curse words or graphically attack your opponents. A code of conduct is here, here, here and here.
Also, 1:46 a.m.? Go to bed!
— RTB
Re: Ask the Dome
February 1, 2009 - 11:09am — Carter_SaundsGovernor Perdue had a fundraiser for her birthday at the home of the The Shupings, a neighbor of David Joyner, head of the Transportation Authority. This same couple hosted a similiar fundraiser in 2007 as a favor to David Joyner.
All of the fundraising calls and replies for the event were sent to Michael Hayden, who just so happens to have lived above David Joyner's garage during the campaign and is a very close friend of David Joyner's. Hayden handled all of Gov Perdue's fundraising.
Gov Perdue sent an email to 100 state-exempt employees asking for their resignations when she took office. David Joyner did not resign. Did he do this fundraiser so he could keep his job?
Does Don Hobart or Zach Ambrose know that David Joyner has not resigned? does Gov. Perdue know that he has not resigned? Has anyone asked what the situation is?
Re: Ask the Dome
January 31, 2009 - 1:46am — tangozWhat do you consider offensive blog entries and where has this policy been to reign in people with Bush Derangement Syndrome?
RE: Re: Ha!
January 30, 2009 - 8:34pm — ThoughtCrimesLegion of Dome! Too funny! A million years ago I was in a punk band, the legion of doom. :-)
Re: Ha!
January 30, 2009 - 5:38pm — ryanteaguebeckwith (author)Under the Dome (TM), dba Dome, provides Top of Mind Awareness of key performance indicators related to state political coverage through core competencies of public records requests, strategic interview techniques and critical analysis by our patented Legion of Dome (TM).
— RTB
Ha!
January 30, 2009 - 5:33pm — James_ProtzmanYou left out some jargon about the evolving business model, customer-driven engagement, pervasive computational infrastructure, globalization, distributed services, at the end of the day.
Re: Ask the Dome
January 30, 2009 - 5:15pm — ryanteaguebeckwith (author)Rhetorical question. Two-love.
— RTB
Re: Ask the Dome
January 30, 2009 - 5:14pm — ryanteaguebeckwith (author)Rhetorical question. One-Love.
— RTB
Re: Ask the Dome
January 30, 2009 - 5:13pm — ryanteaguebeckwith (author)From the same source:
The Democratic freshmen are having their organizational meeting Tuesday.
Presumably, they will select a leader at that time.
— RTB
Re: Ask the Dome
January 30, 2009 - 5:12pm — ryanteaguebeckwith (author)Dome is a legacy print offering that has evolved into a 21st century blog, offering its readers a value-added experience online.
— RTB
Re: Ask the Dome
January 30, 2009 - 5:02pm — ConMaxWe reserve the right to skip rhetorical questions or thinly veiled political attacks (e.g. "Why is Rep. So-and-So so dumb?").
Okay! Than why was former Speaker Black so smart?
Re: Ask the Dome
January 30, 2009 - 5:00pm — tangozWhy does Speaker Hackney consider what he hears from the minority party noise?
Re: Ask the Dome
January 30, 2009 - 4:59pm — abechtel1Does the Dome consider itself a blog even though it existed in print long before the Internet?
Re: Ask the Dome
January 30, 2009 - 4:54pm — ryanteaguebeckwith (author)From a member of Speaker Hackney's staff:
Majority whips are scheduled to be elected a week from Monday.
— RTB
Re: Ask the Dome
January 30, 2009 - 4:15pm — scharrisonWhere can I get a couple of those ACC-style window flags that say, "I've totally lost all interest in sports"?
Sorry. I'll try to think of something government-related.
Re: Ask the Dome
January 30, 2009 - 4:12pm — awbealhttp://www.ncleg.net/House/houseleadership.html lists Majority & Minority Leaders and Minority Whip. But who is the Majority Whip?
It also lists a Republican Freshman Leader. Is there a Democratic Freshman leader?
Re: Ask the Dome
January 30, 2009 - 4:01pm — ryanteaguebeckwith (author)You can search quarterly and annual campaign finance reports on the State Board of Elections Web site here.
The National Institute on Money in State Politics has a database here called Follow the Money where you can search state donations.
The Federal Election Commission posts its quarterly and annual campaign finance reports here.
And the Center for Responsive Politics has a database here where you can search federal candidates and politicians.
— RTB
Re: Ask the Dome
January 30, 2009 - 3:55pm — Isaac136How would a citizen go about finding out how much money (campaign contributions) a given candidate received from any other citizen or interest? Is there a site or resource that provides this free of charge or would one have to subscribe to such a service?
Re: Ask the Dome
January 30, 2009 - 3:50pm — GrayJCan you tell me the what the governor's DC staff's responsibilities are? What do they do on an ordinary day?
Great idea
January 30, 2009 - 3:22pm — James_ProtzmanHappy to spread the word.