The roiling over a new mandatory eye exam for children before they start school continues today with a news conference at the Legislative Building. The N.C. School Boards Association, which is opposed to the exams, is organizing the conference.

The mandatory exams were included in this year's state budget at the request of House Speaker Jim Black, a Mecklenburg County Democrat and an optometrist. Black said the exams will catch early vision problems before they start to hinder a child's learning.

But school officials, pediatricians and ophthalmologists say the exams are an unnecessary burden for most children. They are seeking to have the law repealed.

Some influential state senators may be trying to help. Those who the association listed as speakers for today's conference include two top budget writers, Kay Hagan and Walter Dalton; a finance committee chairman, David Hoyle; and Bill Purcell, a retired pediatrician who is a co-chairman of a budget committee.

Hoyle said he does not plan to speak about the mandatory exams today, but he is leaning toward trying to eliminate the requirement. He said he has received many calls from angry parents and school officials who say it creates a financial and administrative burden.

"There's general consensus in the Senate that we ought to look at repealing that, or attempt to," Hoyle said.

Bayh to speak in Raleigh

U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana was once former Sen. John Edwards' jogging buddy. Now they are likely to become rivals for the Democratic nomination for president in 2008.

So Bayh's acceptance of an invitation to speak at the Democrats' Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner in Raleigh on April 29 is likely to raise some eyebrows.

State Democratic chair Jerry Meek said he invited Bayh after meeting him at a Democratic event in Ohio.

Meek said he was not trying to show any disrespect to Edwards. He noted that Edwards spoke to the Jefferson-Jackson dinner in 2004.

"It is important for our activists to be exposed to a range of views in our country and to meet some of the exciting leaders at the national level," Meek said.

Bayh will be the second Democratic presidential wannabe poaching in Edwards' territory.

Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner will be in Raleigh next week speaking at the Emerging Issues Forum at N.C. State University.

Party wheels rolling in

The big enchiladas of the national Democratic and Republican parties will be in the Triangle this week.

Howard Dean, chairman of the national Democratic Party, will be in Durham tonight to watch President Bush's State of the Union address.

Dean will attend a gathering at the Satisfaction Restaurant and Bar, a beer and pizza place, before watching the speech at a private gathering at an undisclosed residence.

Ken Mehlman, national Republican chairman, will be in Raleigh on Wednesday to help the state party raise money.

Mehlman will speak at a luncheon honoring GOP members of the legislature at the Cardinal Club. The event, $250 per couple or $150 per person, will benefit the party.

He will also attend a reception at the home of Wake Register of Deeds Laura Riddick. The event will raise money for GOP efforts to get out the vote. The event costs $500 per couple or $250 per person.

Riddick is married to Matthew Eisley, a general assignment reporter at The News & Observer. Eisley said he will not attend the reception.

Only one GOP lawmaker was not invited to attend the Cardinal Club event -- Speaker Pro Tem Richard Morgan of Moore County. The state Republican Party is trying to defeat Morgan because of his cooperation with House Democrats.

Neeley joins R.J. Reynolds

Chris Neeley has resigned as state director of Americans for Prosperity to become senior manager of legislative support for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. in Winston-Salem.

Neeley had worked for the anti-tax group associated with Raleigh businessman Art Pope since 2004. He is a veteran of Republican politics, having managed Richard Vinroot's gubernatorial campaign and served as executive director of the state GOP in South Carolina and in Alabama.

Bowles, Oblinger down east

UNC President Erskine Bowles will hit the road today in Eastern North Carolina with N.C. State University Chancellor James L. Oblinger to get a glimpse of how NCSU serves the state.

After a visit to Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station, Bowles and Oblinger will tour the Naval Air Depot, which provides maintenance, engineering and logistical support to the Navy's vertical lift aircraft, including helicopters and the V-22 Osprey. NCSU researchers are working on various projects there, including an agreement to address the challenges of vertical lift aircraft.

The two will also tour the Center for Marine Science and Technology in Morehead City, home to a marine laboratory focused on the seafood industry, and the Cunningham Agriculture Research Station in Kinston.

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