Democratic Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton pledged Thursday not to increase political patronage by 150 percent, and urged his Republican opponent, Pat McCrory, to do the same.
Dalton was responding to language tucked into the 2012 budget by the Republican legislature that increases the number of exempt positions from 400 to 1,000. According to Dalton, the legislature put the language in the the budget to help Republicans fill state jobs with political operatives, campaign supporters and donors if McCrory wins the election.
“I've always believed in hiring the best person for the job and keeping people on the job based on merit,” Dalton said in a statement. “The last thing we need to do is fire 600 hardworking state employees and replace them with political cronies.''
“This is the very definition of 'pay to play' and I'll have no part of it,” Dalton said. “Pat McCrory's allies in the legislature think we need more politics in state government, not less. I disagree and I call on Pat McCrory to join me in pledging not to increase political patronage by 150 percent.''
Dalton noted that he had previously opposed spending $330,000 put in the budget for the gubernatorial inauguration. After Dalton made it an issue, McCrory agreed.
Comments
"You didn't build that........"
August 3, 2012 - 6:12am — cooldelaBut you did, Democrats. You certainly did build the political patronage system here in North Carolina. Who else could have built it? Those cronies are your cronies.
Credit should be given where credit is due!
As Jerry Springer sayeth: "You are the father!"
Does this mean the end of state government in North Carolina?
August 3, 2012 - 5:57am — cooldelaWithout political cronies will we have enough employees to even open the state offices? And getting rid of state government political cronies would cause a significant drop in Facebook stock.
Boss Hogg would be mighty disappointed in this type talk!
Political patronage jobs to cronies has been a cornerstone of NC governmental practice since the beginning of time. Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater. What are these people to do for jobs? Its hard work being a political crony.
"A cheeseburger with fries cost $60.00 over there."
I agree
August 2, 2012 - 3:40pm — mountainmanI agree with you concernd53. Its easy for Wally and the rest to throw out these pledges and political hogwash. But the facts are plain for all to see, Wally and all the previous democrat administrations have hired one political crony after another until all departments of the state are saturated with politics and corruption. Each covering for the other, promoting each other to higher and higher paying jobs, based purely on political clout instead of merit. And now poor little innocent of everything from birth to date Wally Dalton wants to make pledges?? He wishes the voters would overlook his whole political career of the corrupt buddy system that rules Raleigh. If not for the serious nature of the topic, it would be laughable to listen to this pathetic bender of the truth!!!
Dalton supported increase in pay/Show hiring over past 4+ years
August 2, 2012 - 3:12pm — concerned53Wally is great at window dressing after the fact. First, he said that he would not accept a new pay increase when he approved his own pay increase in 2008. A hypocrite.
Before he talks about not supporting political patronage, he should show us all of the hires that he made over the past 4+ years. My bet is most of them were political in nature and NOT hiring the best person for the job. He just wants to keep those that he hired for political advantage in place. Show us, Wally before you expect the next Governor to support your efforts. I bet you that you won't. Hypocrite...
Shame
August 2, 2012 - 2:52pm — NotaliberalIts a shame Perdue did not make such a pledge. This is the most corrupt and political administration in recent history.