2008 Woodie Awards
Jim Black scandal shouldn't influence N.C. legislative elections
Amy Morse
Issue date: 10/24/06 Section: Campus News
In three weeks North Carolina will be holding its State Congressional elections, and time may be running out for Jim Black, Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Black, an optometrist and Democrat, has been undergoing "long-term investigations" because of some back alley dealings that have resurfaced, according to the News and Observer of Raleigh.
Dr. Thom Little, of UNCG's political science department, said there are four reasons to doubt the honesty of Black.
1. Michael Decker, Republican, received a $50,000 bribe in 2003 to switch parties before the November elections and tie party numbers at 60-60. This put both Richard Morgan, Republican and Jim Black as co-chairs in the Speaker position.
Although Black rejects accusations that he had anything to do with it, Decker's confession on Aug. 1 included the Democratic intent to keep Black as Speaker. Black has held that position since 1999.
2. Meredith Norris, Black's political aide, worked as an unregistered lobbyist for Scientific Games. The corporation was handed management for the lottery in North Carolina and may have had influence through Norris in its introduction last year. More investigative reporting is looking into whether Black was aware that Norris was working for the company.
3. Accepting checks, coming to $6,800 in total, sent from The North Carolina Optometric Society without the payee's name. A Wake County judge declared that taking the checks was illegal because it was above the $4000 donation limit for political action committees, according to the Associated Press.
4. Black introduced a law last year requiring all kindergartners be taken for an eye exam. Not only was it biased legislation but it also roused the attention of the school system around the state. According to The Daily Record,
"…School leaders are upset with the new law, fearing it will force them to turn children away from school. They told the Journal they fear that the new exams will not be available in all counties and that there is not enough money to pay for exams for all low-income students…"
Black, an optometrist and Democrat, has been undergoing "long-term investigations" because of some back alley dealings that have resurfaced, according to the News and Observer of Raleigh.
Dr. Thom Little, of UNCG's political science department, said there are four reasons to doubt the honesty of Black.
1. Michael Decker, Republican, received a $50,000 bribe in 2003 to switch parties before the November elections and tie party numbers at 60-60. This put both Richard Morgan, Republican and Jim Black as co-chairs in the Speaker position.
Although Black rejects accusations that he had anything to do with it, Decker's confession on Aug. 1 included the Democratic intent to keep Black as Speaker. Black has held that position since 1999.
2. Meredith Norris, Black's political aide, worked as an unregistered lobbyist for Scientific Games. The corporation was handed management for the lottery in North Carolina and may have had influence through Norris in its introduction last year. More investigative reporting is looking into whether Black was aware that Norris was working for the company.
3. Accepting checks, coming to $6,800 in total, sent from The North Carolina Optometric Society without the payee's name. A Wake County judge declared that taking the checks was illegal because it was above the $4000 donation limit for political action committees, according to the Associated Press.
4. Black introduced a law last year requiring all kindergartners be taken for an eye exam. Not only was it biased legislation but it also roused the attention of the school system around the state. According to The Daily Record,
"…School leaders are upset with the new law, fearing it will force them to turn children away from school. They told the Journal they fear that the new exams will not be available in all counties and that there is not enough money to pay for exams for all low-income students…"
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