The Charlotte observer reported today that a group of North Carolina republican women seems to think the law doesn't apply to them.
State lawmakers passed a new ethics law last year, which took effect January 1st.
The law prohibits lobbyists from contributing to a lawmaker's political campaign. It was designed to reduce the influence of well-funded lobbyists.
But the law doesn't apply to the hundreds of political action committees in North Carolina. And that exception has not been lost on the leaders of the Committee to Elect Republican Women, a group of 14 female state officials.
The group sent a letter this week to lobbyists, inviting them to attend a breakfast Jan. 24 before the new session of the General Assembly and to contribute as much as $4,000. The invitation even mentions the new law and argues that the group is exempt.
Cherie Berry is founder of the Committee to Elect Republican Women and is also Labor Commissioner of our State. As such she is better known as the "elevator lady", since you see her picture posted in every elevator.It's also interesting to note that our own Rep. Linda Johnson, R-Cabarrus, is listed in state records as the treasurer.
The republican committee is clearly undercutting the spirit of what the new law says.
The new law was part of a package of ethics changes that was approved in the wake of criminal investigations involving House Speaker Jim Black, a Matthews Democrat. Republicans made a lot of noise (rightfully so) about the scandals Jim Black was involved in, so it is very ironic they are the first ones to undercut the law that was passed to prevent such scandals in the future.
By specifically inviting lobbyists to contribute to their campaign these republican women are going against the will of the majority of voters tired of lobbyists and big companies buying new laws and legislation.
Politicians (from both parties) should listen to what their constituents want, not to what the big wallets of lobbyists want.
It seems clear to me that our representatives in Raleigh need to push for even tighter rules.
Update: Since some people seem to think I'm lying about Cherie Berry's picture being in elevators, i'm posting the following picture. Feel free to click on it to see an enlarged version.
6 comments:
But the law doesn't apply to the hundreds of political action committees in North Carolina.
As if there weren't any Democratic PACs
Where did I say that there aren't any Democratic PAC's?
You must have missed this part of My post:
Politicians (from both parties) should listen to what their constituents want, not to what the big wallets of lobbyists want.
I just wanted to point out that the first organization circumventing this law was a republican one.
FYI - Cherie Berry's signature is posted in elevators, not her photo.
You obviously take different elevators than I do. I take 2 of them everyday in Charlotte and both of them prominently have her picture in it. I'll try to take a digital pic of it soon and post it so you can see.
I have seen Cherie Berry's mug so many times in an elevator I have nightmares (dont blame me...I voted for Goodwin). The glasses are not working for her!
And what is up with this Republican PAC tryin to loophole lobbyists? What ever happened to Art Pope? He bankrolls NC republican "thinktanks," PAC's, and specializes in astroturf groups.
Cherie Berry spent thousands of taxpayer dollars to have a glamour shot of herself printed on every elevator certificate in the state. No other labor commissioner has ever done this. It was for political reasons only to get her re-elected. She is a corrupt politician, just as Jim Black is, nad is only out for herself and her cronies.
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