Feds yank car seat funds

The state is losing federal money that helps pay for car seats for poor children because of a clause in the state's child safety seat law.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does not like a provision in state law that says children younger than 8 don't have to be in car seats when their "personal needs are attended to."

As a result, the state could lose $1 million a year over six years.

The federal office rejected the state's grant application for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1, saying in a memo dated Aug. 25 that the exemption for personal needs is "inconsistent with traffic safety."

The state planned to use about $600,000 of this year's grant to help pay for car seats for children whose parents cannot afford them, said Kelly Ransdell, director of NC Safe Kids, a program under the state Department of Insurance.

The phrase about personal needs has been in the state's law since 1982, said Darrell Jernigan, director of the Governor's Highway Safety Program. The state has received federal grant money for child car safety for at least six years based on the law, he said, and the personal needs clause had not caused a problem until now.

Gov. Mike Easley's office and state Insurance Commissioner Jim Long are fighting the decision.

State officials and staff from U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole's office plan to meet with Nicole Nason, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration chief, later this month.

The state hopes the federal office will reverse its decision and send money for this year. There's no proof that children are endangered, Jernigan said.

The N.C. Child Fatality Task Force decided Monday to ask legislators to remove the personal needs clause next year if the feds don't budge.

Berger keeps GOP post

State Senate Republicans elected Phil Berger of Eden to another term as minority leader at their caucus meeting last weekend. Sen. Tom Apodaca of Hendersonville was re-elected deputy minority leader.

Berger will have fewer followers next year. Republicans suffered a net loss of two seats in last month's elections, giving Democrats a 31-19 advantage for the upcoming session.

Edwards does 'Hardball'

Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards will be featured on a segment of MSNBC's "Hardball with Chris Matthews" that will be broadcast from the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill on Monday.

Matthews, a UNC grad, is conducting a "Hardball College Tour," moving his show to various campuses around the country. He has, for example, interviewed Sen. John McCain at Iowa State University and funny man Robin Williams at Georgetown University.

The show will air at 5 p.m. before a live audience of students, who will be allowed to ask questions.

. . . as his debts linger

As Edwards prepares to begin his 2008 presidential effort, his 2004 campaign still has some debt.

The Edwards campaign has debts of $313,325 and only $2,281 in cash on hand as of the end of September, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Edwards is not expected to focus on fundraising until he forms his exploratory committee, which he has hinted will occur shortly.