Lobbyists Lavish North Carolina's Far-Right Politicians With Beer, Expensive Parties

[octoberlib]

Indoors, at ritzy venues like the penthouse Cardinal Club of the Wells Fargo skyscraper overlooking the state capital, corporate lobbyists have thrown an elaborate set of parties for Governor Pat McCrory and state legislative leaders.


A review of 2013 state lobbying disclosures by The Nation reveals that lobbyists have not only been generous with campaign contributions. They are also cultivating influence the old fashion way, through expensive meals and parties:



• The American Petroleum Institute, a trade association for oil and drilling companies, hosted a reception at the Cardinal Club with state legislators that cost $3,080. At the same venue, API also hosted a reception that cost $2,897 for three state senators, including Bob Rucho, who is leading the effort to fast-track fracking in the state.


“Corporations in North Carolina continue to exercise all sorts of influence on our lawmakers,” says Chris Fitzsimon, founder of the NC Policy Watch, a progressive watchdog group in the state. North Carolina has seen a huge influx of so-called soft money in recent campaigns—unlimited contributions that are in some cases funneled through opaque advocacy organizations. But Fitzsimon says there are other avenues for special interests to dump money into the state, “particularly through parties and entertainment.”

Read more: Lobbyists Lavish North Carolina's Far-Right Politicians With Beer, Expensive Parties | The Nation http://www.thenation.com/blog/175146/lobbyists-lavish-north-carolinas-far-right-politicians-beer-expensive-parties#ixzz2YUOw7wEe

[rdharma]

1. Mike Malloy exposed this on his show tonight!

[octoberlib]

2. That's awesome! nt