LOD: A Pause to Raise Money

While the NC General Assembly is on a 24-day recess, House Republicans are taking quick advantage of a loophole in state law to sponsor a major fundraising event this Wednesday and solicit contributions of up to $5,000 from PACs that are barred from giving while the General Assembly is in session. The event looks like a shakedown of lobby groups and PACs whose favorite legislation just passed or is still pending. As our press release says, “This kind of fundraising symbolizes the pay-to-play culture that Republicans said they would stamp out if they won control of the General Assembly.” It’s understandable that candidates need to raise funds, but they should also be working to change the money-dominated system, not pushing the edge of the law or promising to make change and then making things worse. Several Democracy North Carolina staff members and summer organizers are joining a protest of the GOP fundraising on Wednesday, June 29, from 5:00 to 6:30 PM. You can join, too, on the sidewalk at 34 West Franklin St., Raleigh, across from 18 Seaboard Restaurant, site of the fundraiser (near Peace College).