The governor's trip focused on biotechnology and economic development and included an earlier stop in Ireland.

Easley did not make any deals or announce any new jobs initiatives, and officials said that none was expected.

A biotech official from the N.C. Biotechnology Center, two state economic development officials and a security detail went along. The state is picking up the $42,100 tab for the trip.

On Thursday, Easley spoke to a business round table of the American European Community Association, hosted by the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, C. Boyden Gray. Gray is a native of Winston-Salem.

Earlier, the governor met with the top management of Delhaize Group, one of the world's largest owners of supermarkets, including Food Lion and Hannaford.

In Ireland, Easley toured facilities operated by GlaxoSmithKline, Wyeth Biopharma and Bristol Myers Squibb.

Military contract info

U.S. Rep. David Price persuaded the U.S. House Wednesday to accept an amendment that would force the intelligence community to reveal more to Congress about its soaring use of contractors.

Price, a Chapel Hill Democrat, said on the House floor that about half the intelligence community's budget is now spent through contracts awarded to private companies. Those contracts total several billion dollars annually.

Price said in an interview that it was important for Congress to get a handle on the issue. He noted that some of the interrogators involved in the Abu Ghraib scandal were contractors and said that privatizing so much intelligence work has implications for everything from U.S. foreign policy to how troops do their work.

The amendment to the Intelligence Authorization Bill would require the director of national intelligence to report the extent of private contracting and rules governing the work, as well as how the expanding role of contractors is affecting employee recruitment and retention for the federal agencies doing intelligence work. The amendment passed unanimously on a voice vote, and the House later approved the bill.

"Certainly there is a realization on both sides of the aisle that this issue needs some airing," Price said.

It was the latest step in his campaign to bring more scrutiny and regulation to the fast-growing private military contracting industry, particularly those providing security in war zones.

Last year, a letter from Price that was signed by more than 100 members of Congress prompted the Government Accountability Office to investigate the industry and issue several reports detailing problems it found.

Price subsequently introduced a bill to set tighter standards for the contracts and make them more transparent.

One of the nation's best-known military contractors, Blackwater U.S.A., has its headquarters in the far northeastern corner of North Carolina, near Moyock. That company has contracts in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere to provide security to the State Department and companies supporting the U.S. efforts.

Many of the larger companies, including Blackwater, have supported stronger regulation of their industry.

Warner's warriors

Among the attendees at the Democratic party's North Carolina Jefferson-Jackson dinner Saturday night will be a group of people pushing former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner to run for president in 2008.

The Draft Mark Warner group will pass out literature and bumper stickers at a table at the party fundraiser, being held at 7 p.m. at the North Raleigh Hilton for prices ranging up to $250.