Gaming company paid Black aide to monitor bill
Monday, September 12th, 2005
By Chris Fitzsimon
Wilmington StarNews Online
RALEIGH - North Carolina House Speaker Jim Black successfully prodded his fellow lawmakers to pass a lottery bill this year. At the same time, one of the two major gaming companies seeking to run the lottery was paying one of Mr. Black’s top political aides to track the legislation.
Early this year, Scientific Games of Alpharetta, Ga., hired Meredith Norris to monitor lottery legislation. But because the relationship wasn’t considered lobbying, the agreement wasn’t reported.
Ms. Norris is a former legislative aide to Mr. Black who continues to help him politically by organizing fund-raisers and other campaign events. Her business address is the same as the Committee to Elect Jim Black.
Ms. Norris began working as a lobbyist in 2003. Her clients include JR Tobacco of America, which fought against a cigarette tax increase, and ElectriCities of North Carolina.
Lobbyists who work with lawmakers, as well as the companies that hire the lobbyists, are required to register under state law. (more…)
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