Money check: NC House leadership

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina state lawmakers, statewide elected officials, and other state political action committees are in the process of reporting their fundraising and spending for the first six months of the 2016 cycle. The deadline for filing those reports is July 31, although some of the data won't be available until early August, depending on what method was used to file.

There are a number of ways for money to flow into campaigns, so the money given to individual candidates does not tell a complete story. However, it's worth noting who is bolstering their war chests, donating to charity or has debts to pay.

Raised: $422,019.74

Expenses: $130,071.49

Cash on hand: $504,908.36

Outstanding debt: $0

Notable: Moore, R-Cleveland, gave $100,000 to the House Republican Caucus, the organization that helps elect and retain GOP representatives. It is typical and expected for top leaders to raise and then share lots of money with their colleagues. By giving to the state party organization, Moore can target large sums to those few races where incumbents face a serious challenge or where Republicans have an opportunity to pick up a Democratically held seat. Moore's report also includes several payments to American Express to pay off the credit card. The State Board of Elections has taken exception to such notations on the reports of other high-profile individuals because campaign finance law says you're supposed to report what the money was spent on specifically. However, the electronic versions Moore's reports make clear how each of the credit card payments are linked to actual expenditures listed elsewhere.

Raised: $4,620.66

Expenses: $15,233.45

Cash on hand: $2,541.78

Outstanding debt: $0

Notable: The biggest donors to Stam, R-Wake, during the first six months of the year were the political action committees for the N.C. Dermatological Association ($1,000) and the N.C. Medical Society ($1,000). His biggest expense for the period was salary supplements paid to his legislative assistant. It is not uncommon for top legislative leaders to use campaign funds to boost the pay of those who work for them at the legislature.

Raised: $38,217.70

Expenses: $42,546.98

Cash on hand: $24,006.27

Outstanding debt: $0

Notable: Hager, R-Rutherford, received contributions from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians ($1,500), BB&T PAC ($3,000), and UNC Board of Governor's Chairman John Fennebreque ($5,000).

Raised: $9,750.00

Expenses: $17,348.54

Cash on hand: $42,957.46

Outstanding debt: $18,170.00

Notable: Avila, R-Wake, got her biggest donation during the six-month period from Linda Leith, an owner of car dealerships. Her outstanding debt reflects money she borrowed from herself for prior campaigns.

Raised: $5,000.00

Expenses: $22,077.04

Cash on hand: $15,979.04

Outstanding debt: $0.00

Notable: Among the items Bell's committee spent money on was a $1,000 contribution to the Committee to Elect Republican Women along with donations to other Republican commtitees.

Raised: $250.00

Expenses: $6,162.92

Cash on hand: $14,886.16

Outstanding debt: $0

Notable: Arp, R-Union, appears to pay for his Raleigh apartment out of campaign funds. His only donation of the period came from the N.C. Society of Surveyors ($250).

Raised: $400.00

Expenses: $4,067.03

Cash on hand: $2,490.08

Outstanding debt: $12,000.00

Notable: Boles, R-Moore, collected two contributions during the first six months of the year, both from David Long ($400), vice president of Long Beverage, a beer and wine wholesaler in Morrisville. Boles chairs the House's Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee. Boles' debts reflect money he loaned his campaign during previous election cycles.

Raised: $21,912.02

Expenses: $20,878.38

Cash on hand: $13,459.01

Outstanding debt: $0

Notable: Contributors to Jeter, R-Mecklenburg, include the BB&T PAC ($1,000), the PAC for Nationwide Insurance in the state ($2,000), and the PAC that gives on behalf of automobile dealers ($1,000) as well as a contribution from Speaker Pro Tempore Paul "Skip" Stam, R-Wake ($1,000). Expenses included a $4,000 payment to a pollster in May.

Raised: $22,413.00

Expenses: $28,507.81

Cash on hand: $6,407.91

Outstanding debt: $0

Notable: Hurley, R-Randolph, received her biggest donations from Steve and Elaine Wordsworth of Rocky Mount. Steve Wordsworth is a food industry executive and investor in the Carolina Panthers football team. Hurley gave $25,000 to the House Republican Caucus operation as well as small donations to fellow lawmakers like Sen. Jerry Tillman, R-Randolph, and Lt. Gov. Dan Forest.

Raised: $54,900

Expenses: $9,939.25

Cash on hand: $176,777.97

Outstanding debt: $0

Notable: Dollar, R-Wake, collected contributions from PACs for drug maker Novartis ($1,000), American Airlines ($750), North Carolina obstetricians ($1,000), the North Carolina Medical Society ($2,000), and the state Dental Society ($5,000). One reason medical groups may be particularly interested in Dollar is because he's a leading author of the chamber's Medicaid reform plan.

Raised: $276.53

Expenses: $6,194.46

Cash on hand: $23,644.22

Outstanding debt: $0

Raised: $52,750

Expenses: $29,875.63

Cash on hand: $73,559.77

Outstanding debt: $0.00

Notable: Lambeth, R-Forsyth, is an Appropriations Committee chairman and chairman of the chamber's Health Committee who has played a key roll in negotiating a Medicaid reform proposal with the Senates. That makes more notable donations both from individuals with connections to health care companies such as former Sen. Pete Brunstetter ($1,000), R-Forsyth, who now serves as general counsel to Novant Health, as well as the PACs for health interests like family ($500), nursing homes ($5,000), and dermatologists ($1,000).

Raised: $1,000.00

Expenses: $192.65

Cash on hand: $3,059.45

Outstanding debt: $25,000.00

Notable: McGrady, R-Henderson, received only two contributions during the first six months of the year, from political action committees representing the Academy of Family Physicians ($500) and Clean Energy Business Alliance ($500). McGrady's outstanding debt reflects loans he made to his own campaign during previous cycles.

Raised: $72,568.50

Expenses: $66,145.19

Cash on hand: $54,176.00

Outstanding debt: $0.00

Notable: Donors to Sane, R-Lincoln, include the N.C. Realtors PAC ($2,000), the N.C. Automobile Dealers Assocation PAC ($1,000) and Cathy Wilhelm ($5,000), chief administrative officer for Strata Solar. Saine is a Finance Committee chairman and renewable energy companies have been fighting to preserve tax credits that apply to their industry.

Raised: $53,650.24

Expenses: $46,925.50

Cash on hand: $14,994.74

Outstanding debt: $11,000.00

Notable: Hall, D-Durham, loaned his campaign $11,000. Hall is the top Democrat in the House and donated $25,090.00 to the party organization dedicated to electing and reelecting Democrats to the state House. However, his fundraising total is about one-eighth of what House Speaker Moore piled up during the first six months of the year.

Raised: $27,467.20

Expenses: $29,260.55

Cash on hand: $5,371.88

Outstanding debt: $0.00

Notable: Fisher, D-Bumcombe, gathered the majority of donations reflected on this report from donors who gave $250 or less, making her five-figure haul that much more respectable. Her largest expenses included donations to the House Democratic Caucus ($10,000) as well as travel costs, such as a reimbursement for mileage (3,681.15).

Raised: $2,774.56

Expenses: $5,101.99

Cash on hand: -$8,301.39

Outstanding debt: $0.00

Notable: The committee for Richardson, D-Franklin, reported negative cash on hand. Her expenses have included donations to various Democratic organizations, including the Wake County Democratic Women ($300).

Raised: $0

Expenses: $972.83

Cash on hand: $93,025.79

Outstanding debt: $0

Notable: Michaux, D-Durham, is the longest-serving member of the General Assembly. The bulk of his spending for the period went to support legislative organizations of which he is a member, including the Legislative Black Caucus ($250), Legislative Black Caucus Foundation ($250) and the House Democratic Caucus ($250).

Raised: $16,647.87

Expenses: $13,216.72

Cash on hand: $25,074.20

Outstanding debt: $0

Notable: Wray, D-Northampton, reported donating in-kind contributions of automobile mileage to his campaign ($3,120). His biggest outside donor of the period was David Scott ($2,000), of Henderson, who works in the timber industry.

Raised: $0.00

Expenses: $4,549.30

Cash on hand: $7,589.64

Outstanding debt: $0.00

Notable: Like many Democratic candidates, Martin reported payments to NGP Van, Inc. of Washington, D.C., a campaign technology provider that works with Democratic candidates.

Raised: $250.00

Expenses: $14,676.36

Cash on hand: $31,027.01

Outstanding debt: $0

Notable: Pierce, D-Scotland, received one campaign contribution, from fellow Rep. Annie Mobley, D-Hertford ($250). His biggest expenses were contributions to the House Democratic Caucus ($10,100.00).