Ex-governor warns of 'arrogance of power'

A few miles north of the trial of former lottery commissioner Kevin L. Geddings, former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland was telling a lunch crowd Tuesday about what it was like to go from an overnight stay at the White House to waiting in a prison line for a roll of toilet paper.

Rowland, a three-term governor and former congressman, had been the boy wonder of Connecticut politics until two years ago.

He resigned as governor and served 10 and half months in federal prison after pleading guilty to a corruption charge following allegations that he received cigars, champagne, a vintage Ford Mustang convertible, a canoe and free or discounted vacations from employees and friends, including those with state contracts.

A friend who was a state contractor bought his Washington D.C. condominium at an inflated price.

Rowland said he fell victim to "the arrogance of power" and a sense of entitlement that caused him to lose his perspective.

"To those of us in politics, power is all-consuming," Rowland told 60 people attending a John Locke Foundation lunch at the North Raleigh Hilton.

Whether in politics or business, Rowland said it is easy to think you are entitled because of the hours spent away from families, the lack of appreciation and, in the case of government service, modest pay.

He urged those in leadership positions to become morally and ethically tethered -- whether it's to a spouse or to religious principles.

Rowland said his "government sponsored sabbatical" is the best thing that happened to him. He said he is less career oriented and more focused on his family and his religion.

"It changed how I will look at the next 40 years," Rowland said. "It is not all about you.com."

Smoking ban has support

More than 64 percent of respondents to an Elon University Poll said they would support a state law banning smoking in public places, including offices, restaurants and bars.

More than 84 percent said restaurant diners should be free of second-hand smoke, and more than 79 percent said restaurant employees should be able to work in smoke-free environments.

"I think there is an interest in protecting workers in their workplace," said Sally Herndon Malek, head of the state office that works on tobacco prevention and control. Malek and a colleague suggested questions for the poll.

Support for a smoking ban dropped when pollsters limited the question to restaurants and bars. Nearly 50 percent agreed that restaurants and bars should prohibit smoking, while about 42 percent disagreed.

Opponents of puffing with served meals could not get a law passed last year that would have banned smoking in restaurants. The N.C. Restaurant Association and tobacco companies opposed it.

Rep. Hugh Holliman, the Lexington Democrat who sponsored the ban bill, said he's ready to try again next year.

The question is whether to propose a smoking ban for all public buildings or limit it to restaurants, he said.

"I think the poll certainly helps the situation," Holliman said. "It gets people more focused on what people think about smoking or a healthy environment."

The Elon University Institute for Politics and Public Affairs conducted the survey of 649 state residents from Sept. 24-28. The poll has a margin of error of 3.9 percentage points.

Medicare questions

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt was in Raleigh last week to talk up the federal government's new drive to provide consumers with more and better information about the cost and quality of the health care.

But the physicians Leavitt met with were eager to hear his thoughts on another topic: the planned cuts to Medicare fees.

As of Jan. 1, doctors who see Medicare patients will see their reimbursement drop by about 5 percent. Physicians nationally have warned that the cuts could be disastrous for patients, who may find doctors increasingly unwilling to take new Medicare patients.

Leavitt had sympathy, but little comfort, to offer the N.C. Medical Society Board members who raised concerns about their shrinking fees. He noted that Congress, not his agency, controls adjustments to Medicare payment rates.

Leavitt also said that, as the official ultimately responsible for Medicare, he doesn't want to see enrollees struggling to find doctors.

"It's as big a problem for me as it is for you," Leavitt told the medical society's board.