I found it quite ironic that Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton openly criticized the a bonus given to the CEO of ExxonMobil in 2005 today while addressing a group of labor union leaders. What Dalton failed to also tell those labor members is that he has owned more than $10,000 worth of ExxonMobil stock for over [...]
- 1Dec10
Why is the Secret Service Poking Around in Beaufort County?
Reports are beginning to trickle out about an incident that occurred on November 20th near the Beaufort County town of Chocowinity. According to news accounts and the local District Attorney, Seth Edwards, two agents of the U.S. Secret Service were conducting an investigation in the yard of Mrs. Louise Chandler, 78. What happens when two [...]
- Dec09
“Why Not Use Them?” I’ll Give You 40,000 Reason Why.
The N&O is running a series this week on the failures of the probation system and one article focuses on the technological deficiencies of different departments not being able to communicate with each other. (Which Civitas pointed out in this editorial back in March 2008). But when asked who should step in and help out [...]
- 1Nov24
All Roads Lead to Fayetteville
When $270,000,000 goes to the sixth largest city in the state, even liberals and newspaper cartoonist are bound to notice. Senator Tony Rand and his boy, DOT Secretary Lyndo Tippett have made sure that they have represented their hometown as much as possible. Even fellow Democrats like Raleigh mayor Charles Meeker are crying fowl. The [...]
- 1Nov20
How Much Does it Cost to be NCDOT Secretary?
Today, Senate Leader Marc Basnight gave Governor-elect the ok to nominate current DOT board member Lanny Wilson as the next Secretary of DOT (replacing Tony Rand's campaign treasurer – Lyndo Tippett). So, how does one get to be DOT Secretary like Mr. Wilson? Apparently give a lot of money to Democrats. According to State Board [...]
- Nov11
Basnight’s Days Numbered?
Marc Basnight knew the minority party in the General Assembly had no chance. Quoted in today's Insider, Basnight says: "Longshot? It weren't even a shot." Whether this is braggadocio ex post facto, or inside information, it suggests a deadly combination of hubris and wax wings. With the recent Legislative reboot, journalists and leftists everywhere are [...]
- Oct23
Quid Pro Quo
So Jim Goodmon decided to donate an expensive sculpture to the City of Durham just 12 days before voters are set to go to the polls to vote on whether to raise taxes on themselves to pay for his Minor League Baseball Museum. (A campaign that he donated money supporting, BTW.) Nah, nothing to see [...]
- Oct08
Obi-Wan on ACORN
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy." (Update: More ACORN fraud.)
- Oct01
Politics Without Romance, Greed Without Government
Greed. It’s a dirty word (a deadly sin, even). As the story goes, only government can protect us from ourselves. But if there is one thing you ever EVER take away from this blog it is this: You can’t assume that under certain circumstances (markets) people are greedy and other other circumstances (government) they are [...]
- Sep25
Timing
While pulling into a parking lot this morning, I saw this car. Just thought it was amazingly ironic given the controversy this week surrounding Lt Gov Perdue’s fundraising from DOT members.
- Sep21
Transportation Corruption: More from Fayetteville’s Ol’ Boy Network
After Steve Harrison uncovers more transportation corruption, Dan Kane joins the party with this piece. Of course, more of it from the seat of N.C. transportation corruption, Fayetteville: A state Board of Transportation member from Jacksonville steered roughly $375,000 in public money to road improvements adjacent to properties that he or a son co-owned at [...]
- Sep09
They Put the Road Where?
Questions are being asked about Senator David Hoyle’s involvement in the Garden Parkway in Gaston County and some land he owns along the way. The Charlotte Observer has the run down with a quote from our friend Professor David Hartgen.
- 1Aug08
What is state business?
This article caught my attention in today’s News & Observer, Auditor probes ethics agency, but not because of the main thrust of the story. The main line of the story was changed records, fired employee, possible bad management and political conflict. While all are interesting this is what caught my attention in the story: "The [...]
- Jul30
A Petition to the N.C. General Assembly
As necessary, replace "France" with "N.C.", "sun" with "cost-effective energy" or "imported furniture" and so on.) A PETITION From the Manufacturers of Candles, Tapers, Lanterns, sticks, Street Lamps, Snuffers, and Extinguishers, and from Producers of Tallow, Oil, Resin, Alcohol, and Generally of Everything Connected with Lighting. Gentle[folk]: You are on the right track. You reject [...]
- 1Jul25
Climate Quote of the Week: Re: Penn & Teller’s “Bulls*%t!”
Consider it a certainty that the Climate Police will lock up Penn & Teller after Thursday’s show. Not only does it feature interviews with some scientists who aren’t totally sold on the idea that the Earth is toast, it whispers an even more inconvenient truth: A lot of the scariest global-warming tales are told by [...]
- Jul22
Transportation: A Picture is Worth 1000 Words
Credit to Kevin Siers who draws for the Charlotte Observer, which published this.
- Jul18
Dole Presses Tippett about Equity Formula
Transportation Secretary Lindo Tippett (D-Cumberland) recently got a letter from U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) inquiring as to why the Yadkin River Bridge project — which bottlenecks I-85 near Salisbury — hasn’t been upgraded as has been promised for years. Tippett claims it’s inflation that keeps this project (and others) from being built. But Secretary [...]
- Jul18
Sunlight as Disinfectant
If you haven’t already, check out the Capitol Monitor — a transparency project that keeps sunlight on North Carolina’s politics, non-profits and interest groups. MSM: keep your eyes on this project. (PS: I don’t think they’re supposed to use the "o" but rather the "a" in capitol — only DC should use that. We’ll forgive [...]
- Jul01
Outrage about Easley’s Profligacy, Too Late?
Governor Easley’s taxpayer-funded trips have been a perennial problem. This latest is egregious to be sure. But the outrage is more potent now than before and the media are only now getting around to doing what the Carolina Journal has been doing for years. Too little too late? And why so much outrage now? North [...]
- 3Jun23
Legislative Rules: Making it up as they go along
Freedom Newspapers’ Capital correspondent in Raleigh, Barry Smith has a great column on the Burlington Times News website about how the leaders of the majority run roughshod over their own rules as they see fit. He says it all with this bit: "Logic doesn’t always apply when it comes to legislation. Nor does it apply [...]