Passing the Hat
With time ticking down toward the start of session, legislators are in the home stretch of the money race.
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And it isn’t just parties that are passing the hat. Individual candidates are looking for donations, too. Tom Murry (R-Wake) is holding a fundraiser Tuesday night at Stonewood Grill & Tavern in Cary. It’s billed as a “celebration,” not a donor event. But the price list – $2000 for Gold Circle, $1000 for Host – makes the point pretty clear.
NC Coalition for Lobbying and Government Reform Director Jane Pinsky says session-eve fundraisers are a Raleigh tradition. Lawmakers like to kick off the year with money in the bank, especially when they’re worried that a longer session than usual might squeeze campaign coffers in the run-up to the 2012 primaries.
But if you’re trying to curb the influence of campaign money on the General Assembly, how much difference does it make if a check rolled in January 26th versus the 27th? Probably not much, Pinsky says. “But you’ve got to draw the line somewhere.”
What other fundraisers are going on Tuesday and Wednesday? If you know of one I've missed, add it in the comments.
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