Wake, Mecklenburg stand to gain in House

Wake County likely will gain two seats in the state House and one Senate seat after the census in 2010, according to an analysis by UNC-Chapel Hill's Program on Public Life, with some help by bill drafting director Gerry Cohen.

Mecklenburg County is the other big winner, adding at least one and possibly two new House seats, according to the data. The counties surrounding the two largest urban centers also are poised to pick up at least a portion of a seat and wield more influence in the legislature.

After the census, the legislature redraws its districts. Those districts all must have roughly the same number of residents, so growing urban centers, with their dense population, require more legislative seats to keep the districts equally sized.

It's the urbanization of North Carolina.

North Carolina's population is expected to hit 9.6million in the 2010 census, a 19 percent increase from a decade ago. Wake County, however, is on track to show 50 percent growth. Mecklenburg is expected to show 31 percent growth.

N.C. enjoys AAA ratings

The three financial rating agencies have given North Carolina the AAA rating in the wake of a budget crisis.

The rating is the highest possible, and the three rating agencies, Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings, affirmed the top score, a measure of credit-worthiness and financial security. North Carolina is one of only seven states to have the top score.

In the political world, the possibility of having a rating lowered is often tossed out as a dire warning against, for example, furloughing state workers.

For Democrats, who control state government, the AAA rating could serve as evidence that a decision to cut spending and raise taxes was the best way to cope with a budget crisis and deep recession.

Of course, the words "AAA bond rating" probably don't have the same power as "raised your taxes," which is what Republicans, who are aiming to control the legislature, will be pointing out frequently.

No pink Cadillacs

Wake Up America thinks there's good politics to be found in Mary Kay, Amway and Tupperware parties.

The organization, which seeks to be a national conservative answer to MoveOn.org, is offering to pay commissions to volunteers who recruit more volunteers and raise money.

In short, the group is building a multi-level marketing pyramid. The commissions wouldn't likely amount to a whole lot of money but would be intended to help compensate volunteers for their time and effort.

"We're not offering any pink Cadillacs," said state Sen. Andrew Brock, a Mocksville Republican, a reference to the Mary Kay cosmetics sales prize. "We're wanting to grow and not get rich."

The commission rate has not been determined, Brock said.

Wake Up America's goal is to have local captains, called Wakers, working on issues and recruiting volunteers and donors. The parent organization would help local Wakers put together television or print ads, mail campaigns or develop messages on issues.

Wakers would earn commissions not only for money they raise but also for money raised by the people they recruited to raise money, and so on, Brock said.

North Carolina has strict laws governing multi-level marketing, Brock said.

"It makes sure this organization is completely clean, not only here, but when we take it across the nation," he said.

It's not Herlach, either

Dome makes its share of blunders, and in no way means to demean our distinguished colleagues at The Associated Press. A recent correction, however, was too humorous to refrain from sharing:

"RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- In an Oct. 9 story about state and local incentives used to lure a Dell Inc. plant to North Carolina, The Associated Press misspelled the surname of the president of the Golden LEAF fund. The correct name is Dan Gerlach, not Girlish."

By staff writers MarkJohnson andBenjaminNiolet.

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