Lobbyists hold keys to Dems' doors
Part 1 of 3: They serve as effective middlemen for those who want to be heard on Jones Street -- and they have the cash to keep legislators listening.
Spending soups up Democratic machine
Part 2 of 3: Democrats Marc Basnight, right, and House Speaker Jim Black run powerful operations stoked by money from North Carolina's business community. Black and Basnight use the money to win votes in competitive districts and strengthen allegiance among Democratic legislators. Those same legislators then vote every two years to keep Basnight and Black as their leaders.
Staff members and appointees shore up Democratic dominance
Money is not the only sign of how much power North Carolina legislative leaders have.
Seats in legislature closed to most
Part 3 of 3: With almost 9 million people and an annual state budget of $17 billion, North Carolina clings to its tradition of a part-time legislature. But an increasing number of lawmakers are rich, retired or self-employed in jobs far more flexible than those of typical Tar Heels.
Lobbyists might get shorter leash
A special House ethics committee took steps Monday to ban lobbyists from contributing to campaigns for legislative and state offices and endorsed a program for public financing of legislative campaigns. Lawmakers are expected to take up a series of reforms stemming from House Speaker Jim Black's legislative and campaign activities.
What they earn
State lawmakers earn $13,951 a year, a wage that has not increased in a decade.
A week in the life...
State Sen. Janet Cowell, a Raleigh Democrat, shared her legislative calendar for the week of April 10-14.
Work raises ethics issues
One common concern about the relatively low pay for serving in North Carolina's part-time legislature is that requiring most members to hold other jobs creates ethical dilemmas and financial conflicts of interest.
Is it time for a raise?
Would a big pay raise for lawmakers improve North Carolina's legislature? Some think so.
