There is plenty of mocking and sneering in Raleigh these days over House Speaker Jim Black's present difficulties, which surround his questionable practice of handing out political favors concurrently with distributing blank $100 checks to legislative supporters. A lot of people are blaming it on "the system."
The State Board of Elections is conducting public hearings in response to a formal complaint filed by Democracy North Carolina in June 2004 alleging illegal campaign activity. Democracy North Carolina is a nonpartisan watchdog organization committed to a range of campaign-finance reforms that include improving disclosure of the flow of political money. At least 60 persons have received subpoenas to bring records and appear in person to answer questions. Who's Who at the Board of Elections Hearings
RALEIGH — After three days investigating the campaign-finance activities of State House Speaker Jim Black and the state's optometrists, the State Board of Elections will now turn its attention to the contributions of the state's video poker industry. For Background: Who's Who at the Board of Elections Hearings
RALEIGH — Democrat Bill Faison, the only state representative from Orange County who's not from Chapel Hill, says he does not consider himself an intentional defender of House Speaker Jim Black, who is the subject of a federal investigation into his relationship with former political and legislative aide, and lobbyist, Meredith Norris.
RALEIGH — Joe Sinsheimer, a former Democratic political consultant who a few weeks ago started a website calling for the resignation of N.C. House Speaker Jim Black, says he did so because his disgust with continuous revelations of unethical conduct reached a boiling point.
RALEIGH — Rep. Bill Owens says confusion on the part of House Speaker Jim Black about where to spend state discretionary funds created what appears to be a conflict of interest for the Pasquotank County Democrat. Last fall, Owens helped secure state grants that would benefit his downtown Elizabeth City real estate holdings, located on Main Street. The money came from discretionary funds Black and Senate leader Marc Basnight controlled in the Department of Transportation and the Department of Cultural Resources. Carolina Journal and The News & Observer first revealed the accounts last month.
A co-speakership has arrived in the North Carolina House, and the fun has only just begun. Here are some things to look out for as the details of the power-sharing deal come to light.
So far, the House speaker squabble hasn’t yielded a leader for the chamber. But in attempting to buck the will of voters, Jim Black has damaged his reputation, regardless of the outcome.
