Gov. Mike Easley pledged Sunday to fix the state's mental health system by next year.
In a spontaneous interview with the N&O, Easley repeated that he "vigorously opposed" a 2001 reform law, although no written record shows that. He said he signed the bill because it had unanimous support in the legislature.
He says Carmen Hooker Odom, former secretary of Health and Human Services, told him that she thought the bill was too sweeping.
"Is it possible she was over there supporting it the whole time while telling me she opposed it? Sure. But why would she do that?" he said. "I'd just gotten into office. I didn't know enough about the particular issue than to accept what she was telling me."
He said Hooker Odom sent him a letter explaining why she doesn't want to talk to the media, but he threw it away. (N&O)
