RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina House Speaker Joe Hackney has asked a legislative ethics panel to examine “irregularities” in a colleague’s campaign finance reports.

Hackney said Wednesday he wants the Legislative Ethics Committee to determine whether activities of state Rep. Ty Harrell of Wake County violate ethics rules, criminal law or both.

The State Board of Elections is also performing an audit of his campaign finances. State elections director Gary Bartlett said his office wants more information about expenditures identified in reports by the two-term House member.

Harrell didn’t immediately return a phone call seeking comment on Hackney’s statement. He told a Raleigh television station this week the expenses were legitimate. State law requires campaign funds to be spent for limited purposes.

RALEIGH, N.C.  – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina says it’s taking seriously allegations one of its lobbyists tried to bribe a state House member.

The company issued a statement about its ethical standards Tuesday after a letter alleging a violation was sent to House Speaker Joe Hackney by the State Employees Association of North Carolina. Blue Cross spokesman Lew Borman says it will cooperate to resolve the allegations.

The General Assembly’s ethics committee said two weeks ago it received an allegation a lobbyist tried to bribe a lawmaker in exchange for killing a bill. The committee identified neither the lobbyist nor lawmaker.

Employee association chief Dana Cope claims the lobbyist is a Blue Cross employee.

Hackney wouldn’t comment on the letter.

RALEIGH, N.C.  – The North Carolina House speaker says he wants to know more about allegations another lawmaker embraced a teen volunteer and drank alcohol before speeding to work this week. The lawmaker took to the House floor to defend himself.

Speaker Joe Hackney said Thursday he asked the House sergeant-at-arms to look into the actions of GOP Rep. Cary Allred from Alamance County.

Hackney said he received reports about Allred’s drinking, speeding and embracing a House page.

Allred says he did nothing illegal and the probe is a watch hunt. No criminal charges have been filed.

Allred said the page is a family friend he likens to a granddaughter. He acknowledged having some alcohol work Monday and being pulled over for speeding. He said he was given a warning.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Leadership of the N.C. House and Senate are relatively unknown to North Carolina voters, according to a new poll released Monday by the Civitas Institute.

The 600 person live-caller poll of voters in North Carolina asked respondents if they had a favorable, unfavorable or no opinion of Marc Basnight, Tony Rand, Phil Berger, Joe Hackney and Paul Stam.

Senate President Pro-Tempore Marc Basnight had the highest name identification of the five tested, with 12 percent of voters having a favorable opinion and seven percent having an unfavorable opinion. Of the voters who responded, 81 percent of them said they either had no opinion of Basnight or were not aware of him. Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand had the second highest name identification with eight percent favorable, five percent unfavorable and 87 percent having no opinion or not aware.

Speaker of the House Joe Hackney was known by 12 percent of voters (nine percent favorable, three percent unfavorable) and 88 percent of voters were either not aware or had no opinion.

“Outside the world of government and inside the Raleigh Beltline, voters of North Carolina know very little about the people who run government,” said Francis De Luca, executive director of the Civitas Institute. “With only half of voters knowing which party is in charge of the General Assembly, it is not surprising that so few actually know the leadership.”

Republican leaders of the N.C. House and Senate faired equally poorly. House Republican leader Paul Stam was known by just nine percent of voters (six percent favorable, three percent unfavorable). While his counterpart in the Senate, Republican leader Phil Berger was known by 11 percent of voters (eight percent favorable, three percent unfavorable).

“The fact that the Republican leadership is similarly unknown shows that very few people are paying attention to government in Raleigh. Whether that is because of lack of interest or lack of coverage by the news media is up for debate,” added De Luca. “At a time when media companies are paring back reporting, these numbers suggest that there actually needs to be more coverage of North Carolina government, not less.”

Full text of questions:

“I am now going to read you a list of names. After I read each name, please tell me if you have heard of that person, and then if you have, please tell me if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of that person.”

Opinion of Marc Basnight:

Very Favorable – 4%

Somewhat Favorable – 8%

Somewhat Unfavorable – 4%

Very Unfavorable – 3%

No Opinion – 18%

Not Aware – 63%

Opinion of Tony Rand:

Very Favorable – 3%

Somewhat Favorable – 5%

Somewhat Unfavorable – 3%

Very Unfavorable – 2%

No Opinion – 23%

Not Aware – 64%

Opinion of Phil Berger:

Very Favorable – 1%

Somewhat Favorable – 6%

Somewhat Unfavorable – 2%

Very Unfavorable – 1%

No Opinion – 22%

Not Aware – 68%

Opinion of Joe Hackney:

Very Favorable – 2%

Somewhat Favorable – 6%

Somewhat Unfavorable – 1%

Very Unfavorable – 2%

No Opinion – 21%

Not Aware – 67%

Opinion of Paul Stam:

Very Favorable – 2%

Somewhat Favorable – 4%

Somewhat Unfavorable – 2%

Very Unfavorable – 1%

No Opinion – 16%

Not Aware – 75%

The Civitas Poll is the only monthly live-caller poll of critical issues and policies facing North Carolina. The study of 600 registered voters was conducted March 16 to 19, 2009. All respondents were part of a fully representative sample of registered voters in North Carolina. For purposes of this study, voters we interviewed had to have voted in either the 2004, 2006 or 2008 general elections or were newly registered voters since 2008.

The confidence interval associated with a sample of this size is such that: 95 percent of the time, results from 600 interviews (registered voters) will be within +-4% of the “True Values.”  True Values refer to the results obtained if it were possible to interview every person in North Carolina who had voted in either the 2004, 2006 or 2008 general elections or were newly registered voters since 2008.

WASHINGTON — More than 60 legislative leaders from across the country, including NC House Speaker Joe Hackney, will meet with President Barack Obama Friday to discuss fostering a strong state-federal partnership.

The meeting at the Executive Office Building includes members of the Cabinet and senior administration officials. The legislative leaders are in Washington, D.C., as part of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) meeting.

Over the last three days, leaders have met with members of Congress and the White House to discuss priorities for states. The top issues for states include implementing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, reforming education, retooling transportation and revamping health care.

NCSL leaders will be available to discuss the meeting with members of the media. The White House will be offering pool camera video and audio. All inquiries need to be made to the White House Communications Staff.

NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.

WASHINGTON — The National Conference of State Legislatures is hosting more than 60 state legislative leaders this week in the Nation’s Capital for a meeting on leadership in challenging times. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will speak to the legislative leaders about the importance of a strong state-federal partnership.

Immediately after Pelosi’s address, NCSL president and Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives Joe Hackney will brief members of the media about the meeting and discuss possible partnerships between state legislatures and Congress.

NCSL is the bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Speaker Joe Hackney and Reps. Fisher and Parmon will have a press conference on Tuesday, to discuss the General Assembly’s ongoing efforts to improve the state’s high school graduation rates.

The press conference will be in the Legislative Building Press Room at 11:30 a.m.

HEADLINES:

- Top NC House committee leaders unchanged compared to last session
- Five House members named majority whips
- Legislators told $90M needed next year for university, community college enrollment

THE BRIEF:

HOUSE COMMITTEES: Leaders on the two most powerful committees in the North Carolina House are the same compared to two years ago. Speaker Joe Hackney rolled out committee assignments for the chamber Wednesday. The eight chief budget-writers and four Finance Committee leaders are identical to those in the 2007-08 session. So are the chairs for the chamber’s three judiciary panels.

HOUSE WHIPS: House Democrats have named five lawmakers to serve as majority whips for the next two years. Reps. Larry Hall of Durham County and Bruce Goforth of Buncombe County have received the titles in addition to whips from the 2007-08 session – Reps. Larry Bell of Sampson County, Jean Farmer-Butterfield of Wilson County and Deborah Ross of Wake County. Whips ensure party members
are present for important votes and are aware of House Democratic leadership positions on bills.

HIGHER EDUCATION: The General Assembly will need to find more than $90 million to pay for expected enrollment increases next fall on University of North Carolina and community college campuses next fall. The amount was released at another budget briefing, this time on higher education. Legislative fiscal analysts told lawmakers that enrollment at UNC system campuses are expected to grow by more than 12,000 students over the next two years. Community colleges are projected to see enrollment rise by 13,000 students next year alone.

UNC CAMPAIGNING: A campaign finance reform group says two political action committee linked to the state’s leading public research universities have given $1 million to state political candidates since 2005. Democracy North Carolina says the Citizens for Higher Education PAC – associated with boosters of the University of North Carolina – has given more than $900,000 of that amount. The University Development Coalition PAC, which is linked to N.C. State University supporters, gave $100,000 during the latest two-year election cycle. Democracy North Carolina put out the information after a bill was filed to attempt to repeal a law that allows university athletic booster clubs to pay the scholarships of out-of-state athletes at the in-state tuition rate.

Introduced in the House:
- H123, to direct the state Supreme Court, when it is reviewing whether a death sentence is fair an proportionate in a capital murder case, to compare each case with cases that share similar facts, including cases where juries recommended life imprisonment and death. Sponsor: Rep. Rick Glazier, D-Cumberland.
- H124, would allow a judge to decide whether extraordinary circumstances justified paying more than the standard rate to defense attorneys representing indigent defendants. Sponsor: Rep. Tim Moore, R-Cleveland
- H126, to eliminate the statewide limit of 100 charter schools. Sponsors: Reps. Jim Gulley, R-Mecklenberg, and Marilyn Avilla, R-Wake.
- H129, would create the crime of habitual misdemeanor larceny and classify the offense as a low-level felony. Sponsor: Rep. Tim Moore, R-Cleveland.
- H134, would make it a felony to assault any state or local officer or employee on the job. Sponsor: Rep. Russell Tucker, D-Duplin.
- H135, would allow broadband service providers to offer voice-grade telephone service outside its defined territory if the telephone service is an add-on to its broadband package. Several sponsors.
- H136, to expand the state Transportation Deparment’s authority to acquire rights-of-way to extend fiber-optic cable. Several sponsors.
- H137, would rule out execution for murderers who were found during a pre-trial hearing to suffer from severe mental illness. Sponsor: Rep. Verla Insko, D-Orange.

Introduced in the Senate:
- S130, would require that identification numbers be prominently displayed inside each elevator so passengers who may become trapped inside can report the number to rescuers. Sen. Don Vaughan, D-Guilford.
- S131, to add an additional 24-hour jail sentence to DWI convictions if the driver’s blood alcohol content was 0.20 percent or higher. Sponsor: Sen. Don Vaughan, D-Guilford.
- S135, would require mopeds to be registered with DMV and operators to be insured. Sponsor: Sen. Tony Rand, D-Cumberland.
- S137, would allow in-state tuition rates to universities or community colleages to persist for dependents of a member of the armed services killed while on active duty. Sponsor: Sen. Neal Hunt, R-Wake.
- S138, would classify Salvia Divinorum, a type of Mexican sage plant that can produce psychodelic effects, a Schedule I controlled substance alongside heroin and codeine. Sponsor: Sen. Bill Purcell, D-Scotland.
- S140, to make it a felony for a person named in a domestic violence court order to trespass at a safe house or shelter. Sponsor: Sen. John Snow, D-Cherokee.
- S150, to advance the date of the next presidential primary election from May to February 2012. Sponsor: Sen. Andrew Brock, R-Davie.
- S155, to prohibit illegal aliens from attending community colleges. Sponsor: Sen. Phil Berger, R-Rockingham.
- S161, to block the North Carolina Medical Board or other medical regulatory board from disciplining physicians taking part in state executions. Sponsor: Sen. Phil Berger, R-Rockingham.

AROUND THE STATEHOUSE:

- The North Carolina Biotechnology Center, which received $15.4 million in state funding this year, touted its achievements to legislators during a presentation. The center was created 25 years ago to promote a cluster of industries that includes drug-development and production companies, agricultural chemicals and plant advances, medical devices, and research and testing labs. The center also has been giving grants or loans to seed 118 growing companies over the past decade.

ON THE AGENDA:

- The Legislature plans to honor the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on its 100th anniversary with a joint resolution of congratulations. The country’s oldest civil rights organization was founded in New York City on Feb. 12, 1909.

OVERHEARD:

“We have a dummy in the Senate today.” – Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton said jokingly in noting there was a CPR dummy on the Senate floor as part of a demonstration for the Legislature’s “Heart Health Day.”

House Speaker Joe Hackney says he wants to try again for a bill that would give legal fees to those who win in public records lawsuits, the N&O reports.