As the General Assembly considers major legislation (HB-581) to cut back regulation of the billboard industry, a nonprofit organization is criticizing two of the state’s largest billboard companies for “political favoritism and censorship.” Democracy North Carolina, a voting rights and campaign finance watchdog group, has been trying to post Both Lamar Outdoor Advertising and [...]
Statement from Bob Hall, Executive Director, Democracy North Carolina, September 25, 2015 The bill that changes the date of the 2016 primary election includes an unrelated, terrible section that will greatly expand pay-to-play politics in North Carolina. This last-minute addition allows the top four legislative leaders to create political slush funds that can receive unlimited donations [...]
The Washington Post published a front-page story on Sunday about Art Pope’s unique role as both a powerful inside and outside player in a state’s politics. The writer drew on interviews and material from several groups across the political spectrum, including Democracy NC, for the profile and a clever chart of Pope’s network of influence. The article [...]
Bob Hall, executive director of Democracy North Carolina, released two statements following news today about (1) the US Supreme Court's decision to repeal limits on the total amount a donor can contribute to all federal candidates and parties in an election cycle, and (2) the State Board of Elections's announcement that it found thousands of [...]
In his PBS broadcast last week, Bill Moyers showcased North Carolina as a battleground between the politics of greed symbolized by Art Pope and the vision of a moral society strengthened by our mutual ties to one another, symbolized by the Moral Monday movement. One point to clarify in the video’s important data and interviews: When [...]
It’s been a rough year for democracy in North Carolina – but there were some positives worth noting, too. Check out Democracy North Carolina’s special wrap-up report, “2013: The Good, the Bad and the Unclear.” There are 12 items, 4 for each category. You may have some candidates to add to the list. Share them [...]
Here’s a brief but important column from Chris Fitzsimon of NC Policy Watch: Governor Pat McCrory spent more than five years campaigning for his current job and it seemed like he couldn’t give a stump speech without complaining about what he called “the culture of corruption” in Raleigh. . . . McCrory promised a more [...]
On Friday, Democracy North Carolina, the NAACP and other groups challenging the 2011 redistricting plans filed a new motion with the NC Supreme Court to have Justice Paul Newby removed from hearing that challenge. As NC Policy Watch reports, “That’s because the . . . organization largely responsible for the drafting of the redistricting plans, [...]
Here’s an excerpt from a New York Times story that includes frank talk from the money suppliers (“we are hopeful that investment produces a return”) and from the money raisers, i.e., Members of Congress. The National Journal also writes about the corrupting money chase, with this quote from former NC Congressman Brad Miller: "The only [...]
A lengthy analysis by WRAL News shows that 167 NC environmental regulators will soon be subject to firing for any or no reason, at the discretion of Gov. Pat McCrory. That's seven times the number of exempt or political positions in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources during Gov. Bev Perdue’s administration. Gov. McCrory, [...]
