It's his second day on the job and Tom Fetzer, the newly elected state Republican Party chairman, is already taking shots at the Democrats.
In his first press conference, Fetzer called on the Democrats to cancel a June 26 legislative fundraiser that he said violates the spirit of ethics laws.
The fundraiser is a reception for state legislators, and tickets range from $50 for individuals to $1,000 for sponsor groups. State Democrats said the party hosts this reception annually to recognize senators and representatives.
Fetzer said hosting the reception while the legislature debates the budget invites the perception the Democrats are allowing interest groups to influence the process.
"This is wrong, the timing is wrong," Fetzer said. "The Democratic party needs to cancel this fundraiser."
State law prevents legislators from raising money from political action committees while the legislature is in session. It does not prohibit the party from raising money. Fetzer said the Democrats should wait until the end of the session like the Republicans.
"At the very least this creates the appearance of pay-to-play politics," he said in a statement.
Correction: A previous version of this post misstated fundraising restrictions on legislators.
Comments
Re: Fetzer: Dems should cancel fundraiser
June 18, 2009 - 11:22am — chesmcdThanks for your definition, I had no idea what pork is! Seriously, find pork from GOP members in the General Assembly. Please cite them here.
Re: Fetzer: Dems should cancel fundraiser
June 17, 2009 - 9:12pm — bellaparolaYou're kidding, right? Of course there's R-sponsored pork, at every level. There is no member of Congress or the General Assembly who hasn't sponsored some pork-barrel projects. I'm not sure what definition you're using - apparently stuff that you personally find ridiculous - but the real one is nothing more than a project of strictly local interest and impact paid for by funds from a larger pool of taxpayers, generally believed to improve the sponsor(s)'s electability.
Re: Fetzer: Dems should cancel fundraiser
June 17, 2009 - 9:04pm — greenswampIs it the yapping dog commercial again? No, its Tom Fetzer trying to bluster the GOP back to the top again. Little does he know that this is the reason that they are dragging the bottom. They are the party of drivel and snivel with no real leadership.
Re: Fetzer: Dems should cancel fundraiser
June 17, 2009 - 7:28pm — mountainmanThe Repubs are rich and serve private interests, period.
» rpty10nyc,
I know alot of rich democrats as well, since when did being wealthy become a bad thing???? I know alot of republican who carry a lunch bucket to work every day. I happen to be one of them, and very very proud of the fact. You can spout your hogwash about republicans being the rich upper class and the democrats being the poor unfortunate victims of the big bad republicans all you want, when all anyone has to do is open their eyes and see for themselves. So go sing your sad stories to some of your rich democrat friends and maybe they will believe your BS.
Re: Fetzer: Dems should cancel fundraiser
June 17, 2009 - 7:25pm — BitterEXdemocratWhy would any SELF RESPECTING citizen of NC donate ANY $$$ to the VILE CORRUPT party of SLAVERY that has RUINED our once great state?
Re: Fetzer: Dems should cancel fundraiser
June 17, 2009 - 5:51pm — rpt10nycThe GOP has been raising millions and millions for years in an essentially private system of financing elections. Suddenly an annual Democratic event has the new "fat cat" yowling foul. Don't buy into Fetzer's rant. He is following the Party of No's playbook that says get the media boobs to cover the story. The scribblers and the chattering class regurgitate the script without digging up any info. The Repubs are rich and serve private interests, period.
Re: Fetzer: Dems should cancel fundraiser
June 17, 2009 - 3:41pm — TarHeel2011When lobbyists and/or special interests have an avenue to give money to the Democrat Party, which funds General Assembly races, while the budget process is going on, there is the potential for foul play. Think about it, if I am a lobbyist, I will pay the $1,000 to the Democrat Party to gain some favor with party leaders in hopes that they will keep my special interest group in mind when they get to it in the budget. I will bet that the NEA has several people there - teachers would rather donate some money now and save their jobs. The Democrat Party is taking advantage of its monopolistic legislative power.
Re: Fetzer: Dems should cancel fundraiser
June 17, 2009 - 3:05pm — myrakinderknechtAppaently Mr. Fetzer believes that holding fund raisers are okay as long as it "looks appropriate" and timely. Fund raisers for Democrats and/or Republicans has no bearing on the budget .. Contributions are VOLUNTARY; it is an established event; and has zero to do with the BUDGET. Fetzer needs to focus on the BUDGET... and stop telling his opponents what to do.
What has a bearing on the budget is letting the GOVERNOR rob the Education Lottery Money and put it into the General Fund and and letting the GOVERNOR duplicate am Education job which will cost $1 million in salary plus travel and expenses (and maybe cost for a court case too). The first thing CUT slashed and decimated was the EDUCATION BUDGET. That should be the LAST THING CUT by an "EDUCATION GOVERNOR." Way to go!!!!!! Next thing you know the NCGenAss will deny sex education for kids who BY LAW can consent to sex at age 16 (exception: they can't have sex with teachers/coaches, etc). WAIT! they did that already pretty much. Hurts my brain!!
Re: Fetzer: Dems should cancel fundraiser
June 17, 2009 - 2:55pm — bnioletThanks for the help, bnartist. Ethics citation removed. -- BN
Re: Fetzer: Dems should cancel fundraiser
June 17, 2009 - 2:51pm — kttechwriterAgent Pierce,
Maybe he could write on your blog.
Re: Fetzer: Dems should cancel fundraiser
June 17, 2009 - 2:50pm — kttechwriterGet back to the facts, pinestate. Forget Fetzer's personal issues. This is about our state, the tax dollars wasted, and the unbelievable corruption that's going on. Democrat corruption. What's been in the papers is only the tip of the iceberg. If you really knew the deal, then you'd be on our side. I don't care who is corrupt. They gotta go!
Re: Fetzer: Dems should cancel fundraiser
June 17, 2009 - 2:48pm — kttechwriterWay to go Chairman Fetzer. We knew you'd be busting Democrats as soon as you were in office. Bravo. Democrats need a good A$$ kicking every now and again. Additionally, I'm tired of their corruption. The NC Democrat legislators make the problems in Illinois look like child's play.
Whatupdo, you used to be cool. Why are you bagging on the former Mayor? The Libertarians already have a party, silly! They are back on the ballot, I believe. I am a staunch Republican, if you can't tell.
I was at that convention and I was proud to vote for Fetzer for Chairman. Campaigning is over and it's time to start revealing the truth. If you can't handle that, then you won't be able to even dream about what's in store!
Cheerio!
Re: Fetzer: Dems should cancel fundraiser
June 17, 2009 - 2:44pm — kttechwriterWay to go Chairman Fetzer. We knew you'd be busting Democrats as soon as you were in office. Bravo. Democrats need a good A$$ kicking every now and again. Additionally, I'm tired of their corruption. The NC Democrat legislators make the problems in Illinois look like child's play.
Whatupdo, you used to be cool. Why are you bagging on the former Mayor? The Libertarians already have a party, silly! They are back on the ballot, I believe. I am a staunch Republican, if you can't tell.
I was at that convention and I was proud to vote for Fetzer for Chairman. Campaigning is over and it's time to start revealing the truth. If you can't handle that, then you won't be able to even dream about what's in store!
Cheerio!
Re: Fetzer: Dems should cancel fundraiser
June 17, 2009 - 2:23pm — WuptdoMy advice to Uncle Tom is this: Don't be throwing any stones, until your house is in order.
And by putting your "house in order" I mean kicking out the minority of the membership who have been causing nothing but problems over the years. Yes, the loud, vocal, and maybe rich, Fundamentalist Christians. The FC's can hook up with the Libertarians and form a 3rd party in NC.
Re: Fetzer: Dems should cancel fundraiser
June 17, 2009 - 2:13pm — bnartistIt is campaign finance law, not state ethics law that restricts fund-raising for candidates during the legislative session. Not all PACs are restricted, only those associated directly or indirectly with a lobbyist. GS 163-278.13B
Contributions from lobbyists to candidates at any time are restricted by GS 163-278.13C
Waaaaaaaaaaa
June 17, 2009 - 1:55pm — James_ProtzmanThis is going to be a fun time. I'm predicting he'll have an announcement like this every week ... and that it'll take at least through Labor Day before the media and the public in general realize that Tom's main message is always the same: Pay attention to me. I'm important!
Re: Fetzer: Dems should cancel fundraiser
June 17, 2009 - 1:49pm — chesmcdI'm sorry Artuhr, Sir, could you please find me ONE pork project in NC that was from a Republican. If you need help you could look at the $200,000 teapot museum or Marc Basnight's $47 Million pier...ohh wait those are Dem projects.
Seriously, find one.
Re: Fetzer: Dems should cancel fundraiser
June 17, 2009 - 1:11pm — pinestate78Spare us the lectures on ethics, Tom. What's the status of that lawsuit you filed but obviously plan to drop before it reaches discovery?
Re: Fetzer: Dems should cancel fundraiser
June 17, 2009 - 1:11pm — watchingTom Fetzer needs to focus his attention on getting the grassroots foundation back in the Republican Party. Give the Dems enough time and they will hang themselves.....sooner or later....eventually.....either this life or the next.....justice will prevail in the end....
The NCGOP needs to shape up and quit fighting within themselves. It's very unbecoming to people who are in neither party.
My line of thinking will never be for the Dems, but the GOP has a long way to go to convince me that they know what they're doing either.
Re: Fetzer: Dems should cancel fundraiser
June 17, 2009 - 12:53pm — scharrisonI wonder how much money the N.C. Republican Party raised during its convention over the weekend...
Re: Fetzer: Dems should cancel fundraiser
June 17, 2009 - 12:38pm — henryeIf anyone thinks that special interest isn't running things you should have pulled up Obamas contributers during the election campaign, if I remember correctly the Banking industry were amoung his largest supporters
along with other interest groups I wish we could do away with all donators and fund elections with taxpayer money it would be a lot less expensive than it is now in the long run
Re: Fetzer: Dems should cancel fundraiser
June 17, 2009 - 11:40am — ncpoliYeah, Arthur, because being locked out of the budget process guarantees Republicans so much pork.
Perdue out of line
June 17, 2009 - 11:39am — PoliticalJunkiePerdue is soliciting money during the legislative session that is illegal.
Re: Fetzer: Dems should cancel fundraiser
June 17, 2009 - 11:35am — arthurb3oh lord. Taxes are the only way to pay for the republican's favorite "pork" projects and to keep their friends companies in business!
Re: Fetzer: Dems should cancel fundraiser
June 17, 2009 - 11:19am — AgentPierceA match made in heaven .... Tom Fetzer loves to see his name in "print" and The N&O loves to hoist him up as a lightning rod for public gnawing.
Just give Tom his own twice weekly column.
Re: Fetzer: Dems should cancel fundraiser
June 17, 2009 - 11:08am — TarHeel2011I will bet that all of the special interests lobbyists will pay big dollars to "honor" the Democrat Legislators who are debating the state budget currently. It seems all too convenient that lobbyists will have the opportunity to give money to the Democrats in the midst of a tense budget process. Mr. Fetzer is right, now is now the time, one could easily assume foul play...