State employees group plans to protest fundraiser

Raleigh, N.C. — An organization that represents thousands of state workers on Thursday called on leading Democrats not to attend a state contractor's fundraiser next week in Raleigh.

Dana Cope, executive director of the State Employees Association of North Carolina, called the Aug. 24 event at the home of Capstrat Chief Executive Ken Eudy an example of "pay-to-play" politics.

“This fundraiser gives state employees and the public the impression that this is a 'you scratch my back, I’ll scratch your back' event,” Cope said in a statement.

One of Capstrat's clients is Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, which SEANC has repeatedly criticized for its contract to administer the State Health Plan. The company has government contracts to work with the State Ports Authority, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and on campaigns against teen tobacco use.

The Senate stripped a provision from the state's new ethics rules that would have prevented contractors from contributing to officials who have influence in awarding state contracts.

Cope said Senate President Pro Tempore Marc Basnight, Senate Majority Leader Martin Nesbitt and former Gov. Jim Hunt should boycott the event, and he said SEANC members would protest outside the Eudy's home.

He also has requested copies of correspondence between Eudy and Basnight, Sen. Dan Blue, D-Wake, and House Majority Leader Hugh Holliman dating to the beginning of 2008 to determine if Eudy, who isn't a registered lobbyist, has been lobbying lawmakers.

19 Comments

WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

VIEW ALL 19 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Latest Comments

It would be nice if other state employees and retirees would join this protest tonight, tuesday, as we bring attention to the pay for play culture between BlueCross/BlueShield and the Democratic Senate leadership. 6pm, 807 Harvey St. Come in from St. Mary's St and make a right on Harvey St. It is time we stood up to pay for play!!!

shadowrider119
August 24, 2010 1:05 p.m.

I know several

aspenstreet1717
August 20, 2010 1:04 p.m.

The government agencies ARE full of waste and it doesn't have anything to do with which party is in control. If you've ever worked for the State, you know what I mean. Lazy, entitled, and comfortable workers fill every department in every organization. It takes an act of Congress to get rid of people. If you come in with a good work ethic and want to get things done, your new co-workers get mad and tell you to slow down because 'that's not the way things are done' with the State. If the State employers had the ability to fire employees the way the private sector does, our state coffers would be a lot fuller.

cubling
August 20, 2010 12:53 p.m.

Hey, MissKitty, Only one of his buddies has been which was Poole. Its a scandal only because certain groups choose to label it as such. The Wine Council uses that money to promote the industry in NC. The Growers asked for that additional tax in the first place to allow the Dept of Commerce to promote it and administrative costs. So, the money they collect they are paying in the first place.

ratherbnnc
August 20, 2010 12:17 p.m.

Hey, RatherB, Convictions on Black, Meg Scott Phelps, etc. Easley (and wife) have not been convicted yet. (A lot of his buddies have been)but it is still a scandal. Yeah, Dems are elected to the GA. Let's hope that changes. The wine industry is big in NC (I love the Duplin wines). So why does the Wine Council need that money? Give it back to the growers!