NC Coalition for Lobbying
& Government Reform
19 W. Hargett Street, Suite 701
Raleigh, NC 27601
919-833-0092
www.nclobbyreform.org
For Immediate Release
February 20, 2007 |
Contact: Louisa Warren
Phone: 919-833-0092 |
Statement from bipartisan Coalition
on Need for More Reform
Raleigh—Today the NC Coalition
for Lobbying & Government Reform, the bipartisan group of
more than 50 organizations individuals who’ve worked since
2005 to push for more openness, transparency and accountability
in North Carolina’s government, released the following
statement:
Given the events in recent days, we have high hopes and expectations
that the North Carolina Legislative leadership will take necessary
steps to restore public confidence to our legislative process.
There is an opportunity to clear the air by adopting better
rules that promote a climate of more openness, transparency
and accountability. Citizens need to know the people's business
isn't controlled by a tight, small, exclusive group. And citizens
deserve to have confidence that their government operates with
the utmost integrity and fairness.
With that in mind, the NC Coalition for Lobbying & Government
Reform is optimistic that in the coming days, the leadership
will move to adopt proposals that we have been advocating since
early 2006. The reforms include:
• Term limits for House and Senate leadership
• Ban on special provisions
• Sunshine on special appropriations
• Ample time to consider the budget before it heads to
a vote
• Ban on committee floaters
• Ban on blank bills
• Provide complete public access to all meetings.
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The NC Coalition for Lobbying
& Government Reform is comprised of the following members:
Governor Jim Hunt
John Locke Foundation
Common Sense Foundation
League of Women Voters
NC Family Policy Council
NC Policy Watch
NC Child Advocacy Institute
El Pueblo, Inc.
State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC)
AARP North Carolina
North Carolina AFL-CIO
NC Alliance for Health
NC Environmental Defense Fund
NC Housing Coalition, Inc.
NC Justice Center
Sierra Club, North Carolina Chapter
NC Institute for Constitutional Law
NC Center for Voter Education
North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association
(NCAPA)
North Carolina Voters for Clean Elections (NCVE)
NC Conservation Network
NC Public Interest Research Group (PIRG)
Scenic North Carolina
Equality NC
Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina, Inc.
The Nature Conservancy, NC Chapter
African-American Caucus of the North Carolina Democratic Party
Conservation Council of North Carolina
Common Cause North Carolina
Democracy North Carolina
North Carolina Black Leadership Caucus
Hispanic Democrats of North Carolina
Durham People’s Alliance
Women’s Forum of North Carolina
Rich French, President & CEO of French West Vaughn*
Lewis Pitts, Senior Managing Attorney of Advocates for Children’s
Services*
Martin Eakes, CEO, Self Help*
Abdul Rasheed, CEO, NC Community Development Initiative, Inc.*
George Reed, Executive Director, NC Council of Churches*
Kay Phillips, Executive Director, Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention
Coalition of NC*
Gene Nichol, Former Dean of UNC Law School*
Mr. Jim Goodmon, CEO & President of Capitol Broadcasting*
The Honorable Bill Cobey, former member U.S. House
The Honorable Gene Arnold, former member NC State House
The Honorable Wayne Goodwin, former member NC State House
The Honorable Art Pope, former member NC State House
The Honorable George Breece, former member NC State House
The Honorable Allen Wellons, former member NC State Senate
The Honorable Eric Reeves, former member NC State Senate
The Honorable Wib Gulley, former member NC State Senate
Paula Wolf, registered lobbyist
*organizational affiliation listed for identification purposes
only
