Money, talking
Big money rules the day on Jones Street, and that’s not good for the credibility of Democratic legislative leaders Here is what the owner of electrolysis businesses said of her attempts to get North Carolina lawmakers’ attention on a regulatory bill pertaining to her industry: "It takes money to get legislation passed." And there was this from Dana Cope, head of an association representing state employees, about raising money for his group’s political action committee: "It’s become acutely aware to us in the last five years that those top 10 PACs are the ones that get whatever they like. That’s the system that we have."

If world champeen political fund-raisers Marc Basnight and Jim Black aren’t embarrassed and a little ashamed by those comments, they ought to be. Basnight, president pro tem of the state Senate from Manteo, has ruled the majority Democratic roost in his chamber for 13-plus years. A not-insignificant fact in his tenure is that he’s doled out hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions through his party to Democrats whom he likes, and those who like him — and will keep him in power.

The same is true for Black, now in his eighth year as House speaker. In 2004, for instance, he gave $650,000 that he raised to the Democratic Party, which passed it on to candidates who, when elected, obviously were beholden to the speaker and could be counted upon to keep him in his leadership post. And Black will hold on to his position even though he figures in multiple investigations related to campaign fund-raising and the passage of the state lottery. (more…)