Group's highest conservative score is 89.8%

Among all the politicians at the state legislature, it appears none is conservative enough to suit Civitas Action.

The nonprofit voter education group, which has ties to the conservative John William Pope Civitas Institute, released its Conservative Effectiveness Rankings for the 2009 legislative session last week.

Rep. Dale Folwell, a Forsyth County Republican, snagged the title of the most conservative member of the House, with a 89.8 score on the 100-point scale developed by Civitas Action. At the other end of the spectrum, Speaker Joe Hackney, a Democrat from Orange County, was awarded a score of 0. Bill Holmes, spokesman for Hackney, points out that the Democratic leader didn't vote on 49 of the 50 bills Civitas Action graded. The speaker typically only votes to break a tie or at other times when his support is determinative.

In the Senate, Davie County Republican Andrew Brock was rated as the most conservative member, with a score of 79. Three Democrats, Sens. Ellie Kinnaird of Orange County, Katie Dorsett of Guilford County and Martin Nesbitt of Buncombe County, scored at the bottom, tying at 2.1 on the group's scale.

Civitas Action's scale is based on the elected officials' votes on bills and amendments the group identified as demonstrative of commitment to conservative ideals "derived from free-market economic policies, limited government, personal responsibility and civic engagement," according to the group's Web site.

Folwell was docked points for five votes, including his support of adding lymphedema to the list of health care treatments mandated for coverage by health insurance companies and the state health plan, as well as ordering the health plan to cover the cost of hearing aids.

Brock lost points for votes in favor of corporate incentives for Apple Computer and authorizing increased regulation of home inspectors, hair braiders and polysomnographists - sleep study technicians.

Learning about debt

North Carolina's college students don't know enough about managing money and debt, and they get themselves in trouble, state Treasurer Janet Cowell learned on a debt tour of college campuses.

Cowell visited four campuses - Wake Tech, Alamance Community College, Fayetteville State University and High Point University - and met with 53 students. She found that students were using credit cards for everyday purchases and getting into trouble with debt.

In a report, Cowell made six recommendations for new programs that could help students make better choices. They included debt and credit card education programs during new student orientations at colleges, policies to restrict companies' access to students, and enhanced entrance and exit counseling for students taking loans.

Wicker changes firms

Former Lt. Gov. Dennis Wicker and his team of government relations lawyers and consultants are moving to a new law firm.

The Wicker crew is setting up shop with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, where Wicker will join as a partner. Wicker is leaving Columbus, Ohio-based Schottenstein Zox & Dunn, for which he opened a Raleigh office in early 2008.

By staff writers MichaelBiesecker, BenjaminNiolet andMarkJohnson.

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