Feb 20, 2007
Under the Dome: Published: Feb 20, 2008 12:30 AM Modified: Feb 20, 2008 02:44 AM  
Perdue tries again on explaining reform law
Dan Kane, Bill Krueger and Barbara Barrett, Staff Writers - News & Observer

Beverly Perdue continues to be vague when it comes to explaining what she meant by having "full disclosure" of fundraising activity for appointees to the Board of Transportation in a reform bill she championed 10 years ago. 
Here's the latest explanation -- out Tuesday -- from the Democratic gubernatorial candidate's spokesman, David Kochman: 
 
"As she said at the time and last week, that bill was just a starting point. There wasn't much precedent in North Carolina for establishing this kind of special reporting requirements for an appointed body, so there certainly were some question marks about all of its ramifications, especially how far the law could go. Even with the [attorney general's] interpretation, it was a first step forward, and the bill was stronger than the version that passed the Republican House and came to the Senate. Now it's clearly time for the state to enact broader campaign finance reforms." 
 
That interpretation by the attorney general found that the reform law required disclosure only if a fundraiser personally handled contributions from donors. Those who hold or sponsor fundraisers, or personally contact people to make contributions, would not have to disclose those activities. 
 
Two of Gov. Mike Easley's appointees to the board, who either held receptions or contacted contributors, later said they were not fundraisers. One is now raising money for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Richard Moore, while the other is a Perdue fundraiser. 
 
Perdue has yet to say whether the attorney general's interpretation represents what she intended, something more or something less