Opinion
Cooper picks the wrong battle
Even as state lawmakers were having to subpoena Larry Hall to show up at his confirmation hearing in Raleigh, Democrats in Washington were grilling Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees.
Opinion
Open-meetings law toothless no more?
A government body can’t block the media from reporting on one of its public meetings because its leader doesn’t like the coverage he thinks it will get. Nor can it list an item on its public agenda, remove the item until the audience leaves the room, and then discuss it once the public has vacated...
News
Hall shows up for confirmation hearing; wins over committee
After weeks of ducking constitutionally mandated Senate confirmation hearings, a contrite Larry Hall appeared under subpoena before the Commerce and Insurance Committee on Thursday, answered questions at length, and was approved unanimously for recommendation to the full Senate for confirmation as secretary of military and veterans affairs. “Sometimes you make history, but not intentionally. I...
News
Senate issues subpoena compelling Hall to attend confirmation hearing
Within an hour of Senate leader Phil Berger comparing Gov. Roy Cooper to former President Richard Nixon, the Senate Commerce and Insurance Committee voted Thursday to subpoena Larry Hall, the governor’s nominee for secretary of military and veterans affairs. Hall has so far blown off three scheduled confirmation hearings. The separation of powers showdown is...
News
Senate leaders say Hall ‘defying’ law by failing to show for confirmation hearing
(Updated at 3:47 p.m. to include new information from Sen. Berger’s spokeswoman Shelly Carver.) Gov. Roy Cooper’s debate over the definition of a “Cabinet appointee” summons the memory of President Clinton infamously arguing before a grand jury over the meaning of the word “is.” In this case, legislative leaders are saying Cooper’s vocabulary polemics could...
News
Legislation would make crimes of open-government violations
Open government violations at a Feb. 7 North Carolina Military Affairs Commission meeting prompted legislation to make such offenses a crime. The incident could affect the Senate confirmation process of Larry Hall as secretary of military and veterans affairs, according to state Sen. Norman Sanderson, R-Pamlico. Sanderson said he co-sponsored Senate Bill 77 partly in response...
News
Judges rule against Cooper in attempt to block Senate confirmation
A three-judge panel rejected Gov. Roy Cooper’s attempt to block Senate confirmation of his cabinet secretary nominees, clearing the way for senators to exercise what they view as their clear constitutional authority to advise and consent on the governor’s picks. The decision — rendered in Wake County Superior Court, and released at 5:36 p.m. Monday...
News
Experts: Military commission not following open meetings laws
Media law experts believe the North Carolina Military Affairs Commission violated the spirit — if not the letter — of state laws requiring the conduct of public meetings in a transparent manner. “I feel like a judge would say this is a violation of the law,” Raleigh-based media attorney Amanda Martin said of Commission Chairman...
News
Presentation to military commission pulled from agenda, added back after public leaves meeting
During a public meeting Tuesday, the N.C. Military Affairs Commission heard a presentation about the Amazon Wind Farm after members of the public left the meeting — a possible violation of the state’s Public Meetings Law. Wind farm critic John Droz had a spot reserved for 1 p.m. on the meeting’s original agenda. Carolina Journal Associate Editor...
News
NCGA roundup: Bill cutting size of UNC Board of Governors advances
The House higher education committee on Tuesday gave its nod to a bill decreasing the number of members on the UNC Board of Governors from 32 to 24. The measure would eliminate positions on the board as the terms of current members expire. “The intent of this bill frankly is to make the Board of Governors,...
News
State military commission blocks discussion of wind farm at public meeting
The chairman of the N.C. Military Affairs Commission refused to allow a presentation at an open committee meeting Tuesday because a Carolina Journal reporter was in attendance. The presentation on a controversial wind energy project was on the agenda of the commission’s Executive Steering Group. But the commission’s chairman, Brig. Gen. Mabry “Bud” Martin, attempted to prevent...
News
UPDATE: Cooper asks court to halt confirmation
UPDATE, Tuesday 7 a.m. Gov. Cooper filed a request in Superior Court for a temporary restraining order to halt the confirmation of his Cabinet appointees until the litigation is complete. WRAL reports a hearing on that request could take place today. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has asked Republican Senate leaders to delay confirmation hearings on...
