With the Republicans in power in the legislature, some of the corporate big boys are opening up their wallets to help support the John Locke Foundation, the Raleigh-based conservative think tank that provides ideas and other support for the GOP lawmakers.
Banks, insurance companies, tobacco manufacturers, beer distributors, accounting firms and others are among the sponsors for the Locke Foundation's annual dinner to held January 21st at the North Ridge Country Club.
The executive sponsors for the dinner, who give $10,000 each, include the BB&T Corp., Blue Cross/Blue Shield of North Carolina, CaptiveAire, K.P.B. Corporation, and New Breed Logistics Inc.
Listed above those companies on the invitation, although it is not clear how much it gave, was Reynolds American Inc.
Giving $5,000 each were Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated and Triangle Securities Wealth Management.
Giving $2,500 each are Carolina Strategy Group, Hicks & Associates, which is connected to Amerprise financial Services; Lorillard Tobacco Company, Metro Productions, North Carolina Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association, the Parker Poe law firm, and Red Oak Brewery.
The featured speaker is Brit Hume, a political analyst for the Fox News Channel. Being honored is Republican U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers and Lisa Baldwin, a member of the Buncombe County school board.
The Locke foundation was started by Raleigh businessman Art Pope.
