LOD: Shotgun Merger, Ouch!

Earlier this week, Democracy North Carolina released a report that sharply criticized a proposal jammed inside the state Senate budget to merge and shrink the three agencies that oversee elections, ethics, and lobbying. We’re pleased to report that the proposal, which many others also rebuked, is no longer a part of the Republican budget plan. The Senate passed the budget bill today (H-200) on a party-line vote and it goes to the House tomorrow for final agreement and then to Gov. Perdue for her possible veto. In our report, we pointed out that budget cuts from last year have already seriously impaired the ability of these watchdog agencies to do their jobs. For example, due to staff shortages, the State Board of Elections has not yet processed 42% of the campaign finance reports filed by the state legislators elected in 2010, much less audited them for mistakes and possible criminal violations, as required by law. Unfortunately, another proposal – this one in H-710 – is still alive; it calls for a shotgun merger of these agencies by January 1, 2012, which would create havoc throughout next year’s election, whether by design or accident.