Bev Perdue’s campaign finance reports say something a little fishy—besides the illegal contributions from Rusty Carter’s friends and relatives. Governor Perdue’s amended campaign finance reports include loans of almost $400,000 from her husband, Robert Eaves, who on the report listed his employer as the State of North Carolina and his occupation as “First Gentleman”. Is [...]
- Apr06
Measuring the General Assembly’s Effectiveness
The North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research released its biennial legislator effectiveness rankings today, and many of the highest ranking legislators will not be returning. In order to measure effectiveness, the Center takes surveys of registered lobbyists, the capitol press, and the legislators themselves. These groups are asked to rate the legislators in several [...]
- Feb11
Look Out, Raleigh Taxpayers
The News and Observer published an interesting editorial today voicing support for the Raleigh City Council’s decision to approve of a bill in the General Assembly that would give cities the option of using taxpayer money to fund local campaigns. A public financing program had its first run in Chapel Hill in November. The editorial [...]
- 1Feb09
“Summa Theologica” without Theologica
Yesterday in my Philosophy of Law class at NC State, I learned some very important things. The course’s objective is to better answer the question “what is law?” through readings of philosophers and court cases, and discussion of legal issues. The class assignment due yesterday was a reading of an excerpt of Aquinas’ Summa Theologica [...]
- Feb04
Mike “Nick Danger” Easley in More Trouble
Depositions taken last month show that former Democratic Governor Mike Easley was hiding a lot from the people of North Carolina. Testimony from his former communications directors for a public records lawsuit brought by the John Locke Foundation and several news outlets show that Governor Easley had a private email address that he used to [...]
- Jan29
“Little Governor” Goes to Court
I just returned from Ruffin Poole’s initial appearance in federal court before U.S. District Judge Terrance Boyle. Poole, advisor to former Governor Mike Easley, was led into the courtroom with his hands cuffed behind his back. Boyle read a summary of the 64-page indictment that refers to Poole as the “Little Governor” because of his [...]