Dan Besse says the lieutenant governor has an important job.
In a live-blog on the liberal BlueNC site, the candidate for the Democratic nomination said that the job comes with certain legislative and executive powers that can be "used judiciously" to alter the debate.
As a independently elected, statewide official, the lg has the "bully pulpit" potential to a degree above most others. If special interests have an important proposal (such as expansion of children's health care coverage) bottled up in committee; or are pushing a bad proposal (such as ratepayer subsidy for excess power plant construction) through the process too quickly for full consideration; the lg can step outside the quiet negotiations and call in the media.
On the issues, he said he opposes the lottery but supports efforts to redirect revenue toward different educational programs.
He also said he would use the Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission to fight obesity and smoking; provide more Internet streaming of the legislature, do more to protect water quality and would work to fix the mental health system.
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