Several newspapers have called on Speaker Jim Black to resign, but no House Democrat has taken a firm stand against Jim Black.  We need you to speak out right now! 

Click here to email the House Democrats and tell them that Jim Black is no longer fit to serve as Speaker of the House!  Tell them that you've had enough of the investigations of Jim Black, enough of the blatant disregard of campaign finance laws , and enough of the abuse of power. 

Democrats would do well to remove Jim Black and the cloud trailing him
By Don Mallicoat
Asheville Citizen-Times
8/26/06

Have you ever had a friend or acquaintance whose behavior was so outrageous that you didn’t want to be around them anymore? I’m not talking illegal. You just knew that if you hung around with them that sooner or later their actions would get them, and you, in trouble and it was best to stay away. If you are nodding your head, and you are a Democrat, could you explain to me why North Carolina Democrats are still supporting Jim Black, the Speaker of the House in the General Assembly?

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such blatant and arrogant behavior by an elected politician at the state level. This is coming from a guy who grew up in the state that gave us George Wallace. Let’s look at Black’s transgressions over the past few years.

It’s been reported that he and Marc Basnight, President of the Senate, supposedly set aside millions of dollars in taxpayer money for “contingency funds” that only they had access to and didn’t require legislative approval for expenditure.

His involvement with the legislation on the Education Lottery is so egregious I want to laugh so I don’t cry. One of his associates, Meredith Norris, recently pleaded no contest to charges of breaking N.C. lobbying laws. Kevin Geddings, Black’s appointment to the Lottery Commission, was indicted on federal charges for fraud associated with the lottery and is now living in Florida.

Let’s not forget the legislation Black pushed through the House to require eye exams for students in N.C. schools. He’s an optometrist and receives campaign funds from other optometrists.

No money involved there, right? Now, Michael Decker has pled guilty to charges of extortion and money laundering associated with switching from the Republican to Democratic Party so Black could retain his position as Speaker.

And how does Democratic leadership respond? Governor Easley said the situation was “a blight on the state” with no mention of Jim Black’s actions. The state Democratic Party chair, Jerry Meek, said “We must resist the temptation to jump to conclusions.” Hey Jerry, does the phrase “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire” ring a bell?

Right now you are probably thinking, “Just another Republican trying to destroy the Democratic Party in North Carolina.”

No, this is an issue that transcends party affiliation. It’s about leadership ethics. Simply stated, leaders in key positions of responsibility must be held to higher ethical standards than those they lead. Why? Unethical behavior weakens a person’s ability to lead. Let me illustrate.

I had to have a TOP SECRET security clearance while I was in the Army. To get that I went through an extensive background check to determine if there was any unethical behavior in my past that could be used against me to violate the information with which I was entrusted. Foreign spies looked to exploit individual weaknesses to get the information they wanted.

Likewise, how can Jim Black, or any elected leader, effectively represent the people and do what’s best for the state when someone comes to him and says, “Jim, if you don’t support this legislation I will spill the beans about your association with Kevin Geddings.”

Immediately he is put in the position of choosing between self-preservation and doing the right thing. Self-preservation usually wins out.

Although Black’s actions may not be illegal, they are at least embarrassing and unethical. If the Democrats want to ensure handing over control of the House to Republicans this fall, keep up the support. If not, they need to disassociate themselves with this man. They can’t be so arrogant as to think this won’t be used against them in the upcoming campaigns. Maybe they are. Jim Black recently said, “I do not believe they’re (voters) going to throw out the speaker of the House and send a freshman down here.” Now that’s arrogance.

I hope his opponent uses that against him. Mecklenburg County voters are smarter than Jim Black. The best possible result would be that he not be re-elected. As a bare minimum, if he is re-elected, Democrats in the House should show him they don’t support his behavior by refusing him any leadership position. Then again, maybe that is asking the foxes to guard the henhouse.

There’s an old saying: “Integrity is doing the right thing when nobody is watching.” We’re watching you, Jim.

Our View: If Jim Black won’t step aside, his colleagues should move him out.

Fayetteville Observer

April 10, 2006

The Fayetteville Democrat called on his colleagues to caucus, before the “short session” opens later this spring, to decide who ought to be their leader in this election year. With House Speaker Jim Black under investigation for a laundry list of wrongdoing, including numerous possible violations of campaign-finance laws, Democrats have good reason for worry.

Black says he committed no crimes. That may be true. Prosecutors and juries will decide. But guilty or innocent, his office and his party are stained by allegations revealed in lengthy hearings by the State Board of Elections. The board has asked the Wake County district attorney to pick up the probe.

Meanwhile, an Elon University Poll found that a growing number of North Carolina residents believes Black should resign from office. The he-should-quit sentiment rose from 29 to 40 percent in one month.

Whether or not he leaves the House is between Black and his constituents. But there’s no question that his leadership is hurting other members of his party, and the entire House of Representatives.

If Black won’t step down from the speaker’s office voluntarily, his colleagues have no choice but to remove him and elect a replacement. If Black is exonerated, he can win the job back. But right now, he’s a liability for all of his colleagues. He’s got to go.

Editorial: The speaker's storm

Salisbury Post

April 04, 2006

The dark rumblings you heard Monday morning could have been a passing thunderstorm. Or perhaps it was the cold front closing in on House Speaker Jim Black as his Democratic colleagues begin to break ranks and urge him to step aside.

Gone are the blustery protestations that Black is the victim of a political vendetta, a scandal-obsessed media or, in the words of one defender, that his campaign indiscretions amount to little more than driving 56 in a 55 mph zone. Those defenses suffered a well-deserved death with revelations that Black's political machine literally had a blank check (your name here) when it came to divvying out campaign donations, that contributions were dangled as an inducement for Republican members to switch sides as he struggled to retain power, that he took forbidden donations from businesses, that a lobbyist was simultaneously advocating for the video poker industry while running Black's influential political shop. The State Elections Board heard enough to ask the district attorney to consider criminal charges. Meanwhile, Black is also involved in a federal probe into the video poker industry's machinations in the state, although he is not officially a target.

All Black needs now is for President Bush to tell him he's doing a heckuva job.

Instead, the kiss of death is coming from the party faithful. Rep. Lorene Coates (D-Rowan County), up for re-election and under pressure from Republican candidate Susan Morris, was the first Democratic House member to call for Black to relinquish the speakership. Then Rep. Pricey Harrison (D-Craven) said he should at least temporarily step aside. On Monday, Rep. Alice Underhill (D-Craven) said that Black had suffered "severe and irreparable" damage. Another Democrat, Rep. Rick Glazier of Cumberland County, recommended a party caucus to discuss the crisis. Meanwhile, as backdrop to the political thunderbolts, a low-pressure system is building on the media side as several newspapers have editorialized that Black should resign as speaker.

What Black "should" do seems obvious -- and inevitable. The legislative session draws near, and -- thanks in no small part to Black's problems -- lobbying and campaign reform will likely head the agenda. The charges and ongoing investigations make it impossible for Black to function credibly as speaker. While we shouldn't rush to judgment regarding the legal outcome, the legislative impact is undeniable. It's a disservice to the people of North Carolina to pretend the House can conduct business as usual with the speaker laboring under this cloud. It's too toxic and too distracting.

Yet, having said that, we're reluctant to whip up the dump-Black storm -- for this reason. The problem of special-interest dominance in the legislature and the taint of money-driven politics is much larger than Jim Black. It didn't start with him and, unfortunately, it won't end with him, regardless of what the law and the electorate ultimately decide. By clinging to power, Black is helping to keep this issue in the forefront, where it should be.

While Democrats are compelled to cut their losses, the citizenry should be unequivocal in demanding reform. The more intense and prolonged the wind and hail, the more likely we'll see real change. In that regard, it won't bother us a bit if the speaker twists a while longer in the wind.

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Black eye gets bigger

Richmond County Daily Journal

April 4, 2006

One of the state's top Democrats joined the growing chorus calling for Rep. Jim Black to resign his post as House speaker.

Rep. Alice Underhill (D-Craven) said Monday she wrote to Black to say the damage caused by ongoing investigations of potential campaign finance violations involving him and others close to him has become "severe and irreparable."

"I am asking for the good of the House of Representatives, and the people of North Carolina, that you resign your position as speaker," Underhill said.

When Underhill speaks, people listen — and for good reason.

She is the daughter of the late Jim Graham, the state's agriculture commissioner from 1964-2001 and one of the most recognizable and loyal North Carolina Democrats in state history. With her call for Black's resignation, she joins Rep. Lorene Coates (D-Rowan), who said last week that Black should step aside. Rep. Pricey Harrison (D-Guilford) also has suggested Black should leave the post at least temporarily until his legal troubles are over.

Black's office is involved with an ongoing federal grand jury probe into the video poker industry and a state investigation of potential lobbying law violations involving Meredith Norris, his former political director.

The allegations against Black and his cronies are mounting. His role in these scandals — whether implied or real — has eroded his ability to lead. He can no longer be an effective legislator. His every move will be questioned, no matter how well intentioned.

If Mr. Black truly cares about his constituents and his state, he'll do the right thing and resign. If not, he'll hunker down and drag the state farther and farther into the mud.

We, along with several state newspapers, have called for the speaker's resignation. The longer he stays in office, the bigger the state's Black eye gets and the longer it will take to repair the damage his reign has wrought.

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In the dark on the subject of Jim Black

Jacksonville Daily News
April 03, 2006

After more rounds of the ongoing Jim Black Festival in Raleigh, it’s amazing that anyone in his or her right mind still believes he should be the state’s Speaker of the House.Testimony in March continued to show that Black is the unquestioned master of exploiting loopholes in the state’s political contributions rules. He insists that he’s done nothing illegal, and that may well turn out to be the case. But does anyone, anywhere, think he’s done nothing wrong?

The incredible answer is, yes, there are plenty of such people. Pretty much the entire Democratic delegation to the state’s General Assembly has been silent on the subject of asking Black to step down as speaker. Gov. Mike Easley hasn’t said a thing, one way or the other.

Perhaps most disturbing, a recent Elon University poll shows that one in four people in the state think he should remain in office.

That one statistic doesn’t tell you the whole story, of course. Here’s how the poll numbers break down:

• 30 percent of those polled think Black should resign.
• 25 percent think he should remain in office.
• 35 percent said they have no opinion on the subject.
• 9 percent said they were unfamiliar with the issue.

It’s stunning that with the saga of Jim Black’s tomfoolery appearing regularly on the front page of virtually every newspaper in the state, so many people still either don’t know what’s going on, or don’t care. Isn’t good, honest, responsible government important anymore?

If you’re one of the 25 percent out there who actually think Jim Black should remain in one of the most powerful positions in Raleigh, well, you really need to catch up on your reading.

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Black Must Go

Transylvania Times

April 03, 2006

The recent revelations regarding North Carolina House Speaker Jim Black are appalling.  In the last four years Black has engaged in a long list of actions that are probably illegal, definitely unethical and certainly not commendable for a person in a position of leadership and power.

The following are just some of Black’s questionable acts:

• Appointed Meredith Norris, a secretary, to the state government’s Rules Review Commissions even though she had no law degree or experience making rules.  Norris later failed to register as a lobbyist for Scientific Games, a major lottery vendor, while also working as a political volunteer for Black.  Black admits he allowed Scientific Games to write part of the state lottery law dealing with the selection of vendors.
• Appointed Kevin Geddings to the State Lottery Commission.  After receiving the position, it was learned Geedings had been paid more than $20,000 by Scientific Games for his efforts to get the lottery approved.  Geddings later resigned.
• Accepted $6,000 from a strip club owner.
• Raised money for two Republican candidates from optometrists who gave him checks with no payees name.  The money was forwarded to one of the candidates, Michael Decker, who switched political parties and voted for Black as House speaker.
• Circumvented the General Assembly and inserted a provision in the state budget requiring school age children to be examined by an optometrist.  The move could cost the state between $65 to $120 per child. A judge has since put the provision on hold.
• Accepted checks from the optometrist political action committee that exceeded state limits.

As a result of his actions, Black has spent much of his time, and some of the state’s money, dealing with his legal issues.  Two weeks ago, the State Board of Elections unanimously proclaimed Black had broken the state’s campaign laws and requested the Wake Country District Attorney’s office begin a criminal investigation of Black’s campaign practices.

“We believe he has violated the law,” said Larry Leake, a Democrat who is chairman of the State Board of Elections.  In referring to the Decker matter and the blank checks from optometrists, Leake said, “You’ve got to disclose the money that you control and disburse to others.”  And you cannot use blank checks to circumvent the maximum contribution limits.”

The state government is not the only entity interested in Black’s actions.  Documents from his office have been subpoenaed by a federal grand jury.

Throughout all of this, Black and his attorneys have maintained his innocence.  In fact, Black had the audacity to ask the state for $200,000 to pay his legal expenses to comply with the federal grand jury subpoenas.

Given his past actions and the time he has spent and probably will spend in court or defending his actions, it’s clear Black has neither the integrity nor the time to adequately and honorable fulfill the duties of Speaker of House.  For the good of his party and this state, he should step down.  If he does not do so willingly, members of the House should select another speaker.  If they do not, North Carolina will indeed be in a sad state.  

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Black should step down

Durham Herald-Sun
March 29, 2006

The list of embarrassments for House Speaker Jim Black, the Democrat from Mecklenburg County, just keeps getting longer. Let's review:

• At the same time he was supporting a state lottery and trying to push it through the Legislature, Black had ties to Scientific Games, a company that wanted to run the lottery. His political director, Meredith Norris, was a company employee. And the man he appointed state lottery commissioner, Kevin Geddings, stepped down when it was revealed he was also on Scientific Games' payroll.

• Black, an optometrist, inserted a controversial bill into the state budget mandating eye exams for all children entering school. Many physicians and school officials said the bill was unnecessary.

• Later, in hearings by the state Elections Board, it was revealed that Black received checks from the optometrists' association with the payee line left blank. Black admitted filling in the names and passing the checks along to legislative allies.

• The Elections Board said that maneuver may have violated state law, and turned over the allegations to Wake County's district attorney. The speaker's close ties to the sleazy video poker industry have also been the subject of scrutiny.

Is it any wonder the public views politicians with cynicism? Here we have one of the three most powerful officials in the state, one of the longest-serving speakers in North Carolina history, acting like a caricature of a back-slapping, backroom-dealing good old boy, more devoted to special interests than making good laws.

Black has not been charged with anything, but these allegations are serious, and have left him under a dark cloud. It's clear that the Legislature needs to embark on a round of sincere ethics reform, and it seems equally clear that Black is not the person to lead that effort. Jim Black should step down as speaker and focus on repairing his own reputation. Someone else will need to clean up the stain that's been left on the state.

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Time for Black to step down

Cherokee Scout

March 29, 2006

It’s high time for the N.C. General Assembly to appoint a new Speaker of the House. Speaker Jim Black’s mounting ethical and legal problems are taking attention away from more important
issues affecting our state.

Black’s ethics are questionable at best. He kept his political director on staff while she worked as a lobbyist on key issues before the Legislature. He created a job for former Rep. Michael Decker. He is accused of taking illegal contributions from the video gambling industry, contributions of more than $1,000 from factory workers and people drawing Social Security disability checks. And Black, an optometrist, pushed through legislation requiring children to have an eye exam before entering public schools.

How can Black effectively lead our state when his honesty and integrity are constantly called into question?

Our representatives in the Legislature, Rep. Roger West (R-Marble) and Sen. John Snow (D-Murphy), need to step forward and put pressure on Black to step down. Snow should encourage members of his party to nominate a new speaker when the Legislature resumes.

West should encourage members of his party not to make Black’s troubles a bigger campaign issue. Some Republicans are trying to tie Black to every Democratic candidate running for state office.

The bottom line is our Speaker of the House must be trustworthy. Many voters in this state have lost faith in Black. They may soon lose faith in politicians who continue to support him.

Black scandals continue to fester

Dunn Daily Record

3/22/06

Barbara Gathings of Hamlet testified before the State Board of Elections Tuesday that she played video poker at a Rockingham store, spending an average of $20 to $25 a month on the game.

She said her only income is an $1,100 monthly disability check, but she told elections board chairman Larry Leake that she and the store's owner had discussed her contributing to House Speaker Jim Black's campaign so video poker wouldn't be outlawed.

So Ms. Gathings said she gave Speaker Black $1,000, taking $800 from her savings and borrowing an additional $200 from her son.

"It's just one of these things that I've done and I've regretted it ever since," Mr. Gathings said.

But one thing is for certain: Speaker Black didn't regret taking her money.

The elections board is investigating possible illegal campaign contributions tied to the video poker industry.

Going back to 2001, according to the watchdog group Democracy North Carolina, Speaker Black is the state's largest recipient of donations from the video poker industry.

It's an investment that has paid off handsomely for video poker operators. Speaker Black has single-handedly prevented the state from outlawing the electronic bandits.

Though the state Senate controlled by Speaker Black's own Democratic Party has twice voted to ban the machines, Speaker Black won't even let the House consider a ban. He prevents the legislation from reaching the House floor.

So the video poker operators are allowed to keep taking money from working North Carolinians; and Speaker Black keeps taking money from video poker operators.

And there's plenty of stench surrounding all of this.

Thomas Crowley, a used-car salesman from Rockingham, denied Tuesday that he contributed to Speaker Black's campaign, despite a $1,000 money order bearing his name that ended up in the campaign's account.

Mr. Crowley said his car lot sits across from the same convenience store where Ms. Gathings used to lose her money. He said the store's owner asked him in 2002 to sign a petition to keep video poker machines legal in North Carolina.

But Mr. Crowley said he never gave the store owner money for a campaign donation. "He said, 'You don't have to pay anything,"' Mr. Crowley testified. "'You just have to put your name down."

The store owner, by the way, no longer runs the store; and at least three people who know him testified Tuesday they don't know where he lives.

Speaking of such smelly contributions, Larry Leake, chairman of the State Board Elections, talked to reporters Tuesday.

"Was this their own money or was it somebody else giving this money as part of an organized effort?" Mr. Leake said, as quoted by the Associated Press. "I find some of the stories which we've heard not to be believable."

It is illegal to contribute to a political campaign in someone else's name or to use someone else's money.

The elections board will spend the bulk of this week investigating this and other questionable activities surrounding Speaker Black.

We have no idea what the board will determine or if the speaker is guilty. We suspect, however, that the wide array of scandals swirling about the speaker will make it difficult for him to effectively lead the state House.

It's past time he relinquish his leadership post.

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Democrats should quit him, but many still go for Black

Greensboro News and Record

3/21/06

Do North Carolina Democrats have "wish I could quit you" feelings for Jim Black? Do they love him passionately but feel a little shame and guilt?

Maybe not. In politics, money and power overcome a lot of shame and guilt.

Black, speaker of the N.C. House of Representatives, has lived under a cloud for months. His campaign fund-raising practices have been the subject of one lengthy hearing by the State Board of Elections, with another coming up. Other agencies are investigating, too. The Democrat from Mecklenburg County has a knack for collecting contributions from groups and individuals that, somehow or other, end up with nice state appropriations, favorable legislation or jobs.

The attention to Black's ethics presents a dilemma for Democratic legislators. Should they keep him as their leader, and risk the appearance of guilt by association, or replace him with someone who has a better image?

So far, Democrats are standing by their man. One reason: He's still raking in money. Not only did his own campaign organization claim more than $1 million in assets at the end of 2005, much of which he'll dole out to his supporters, but he's happy to star at fund-raisers for legislative candidates.

Greensboro's Rep. Alma Adams has him scheduled for a visit Wednesday. Is she concerned about Black's troubles?

"If that's a problem, that's not my problem," Adams told the News & Record's Inside Scoop.

Adams has little to worry about politically. Her opponent, Olga Wright, is the same candidate she trounced two years ago. She can gain campaign cash, without risking an election defeat, with Black's help. And, if Black remains in power, he may reward her loyalty with a nice committee assignment or a plusher office.

Legislators who back Black may lose some credibility on ethics issues, but that's a political commodity of lesser value than money or power.

Quit him? They should, but Black's followers just want more.

The embattled state House speaker still entices legislative supporters with his power and money. In politics, those attributes overcome shame any day.

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Our View: Speaker should stand aside for the public's sake and his own

Fayetteville Observer

3/21/06

House Speaker Jim Black is doing much of his talking through his lawyer these days, but what’s being said is worth hearing.

Following a State Board of Elections audit of donations from Black’s campaign to other candidates, John Wallace, Black’s lawyer, conceded that, if the state’s information is accurate, five of Black’s contributions were over the limit and some refunds are in order.

“If”? OK, we’ll play along.

If Board of Elections auditors didn’t put a lot of numbers in the wrong places, the speaker exceeded the statutory $4,000 gift limit in at least five cases.

Two candidates, Rep. Mary McAllister of Cumberland County and Rep. Earline Parmon of Forsyth, got double the legal limit: $8,000 apiece.

Rep. Earl Jones of Guilford County pulled down $6,000. Rep. Alma Adams, also of Guilford, took $4,500.

Black, a Democrat, even donated $5,000 to Charles Monroe Buchanan, a Republican from Mitchell County.

If Black wants to dispute the auditors’ numbers, that’s his right. But he hasn’t seen fit to do that yet, and the likely explanation is that he knows how it would would work out.

So what we have here is a speaker whose lawyer tentatively concedes that payments were made in excess of what the law allows, and suggests that everything can be put right by taking some of the money back.

Black has some wiggle room, and honest error may in fact have played a part in some of this; but it’s just not going to be that easy — even without regard for his entanglements with lobbyists and gaming concerns and the creation of a state job for a political ally. Honest error isn’t always legal.

He can fight his legal battles without leaving the House. In fact, people should be slow to press the courts or anyone else to reverse the will of the voters in his Mecklenburg district. But his standing as speaker — as the power-broker who gets things done — has been seriously compromised, and that’s a job he does need to resign.

We’re not naive enough to try to divorce the speaker’s office from wheeling and dealing. It’s a political job. But Black has become a liability to the state and to the legislature that made him speaker. He is encumbered by scandals of his own making and his lawyer acknowledges apparent violatons of law.

What does it take to get the guy to step aside — lighten his burden and discharge his duties as House member while seeking whatever vindication to which he’s entitled?

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Our View, Jim Black ought to go

Monroe Enquirer

3/5/06

The notion that House SpeakerJim Black is the best person to lead the state Legislature to enact strict reforms of campaign finance, rules for lobbyists and ethics would be laughable if it were not so pathetic.

His apologists would have you believe  that the Jim Black is a hard-working legislator who has had the misfortune of picking his friends poorly, that he is an honest man who has broken no law and should not be called to account for the misdeeds of others.

 That would make Jim Black the most naive and unlucky man to ever walk the earth or the slickest fox to ever guard a henhouse. To us, he looks a lot more like the latter.

It is hard to even know where to start. There has been enough corruption, unethical behavior and arrogance to bring down a half dozen people.
 We will start on a selfish point. Jim Black’s delivery of $6 million in road construction aid — unplanned, unreviewed and unappropriated by normal channels — to boost plans for a mall in Matthews that was in direct competition with another plan in Stallings.

Black explained later that other powerful lawmakers were feathering their community’s nests so he did the same for this mall — which has an anchor store owned by a Black supporter who donated $25,000 to his campaign.

 One might argue that was just a lawmaker taking care of the folks back home. Maybe, but why did his office repeat-edly lie to our reporters about where the money came from, outright denying it came through Jim Black’s action. Only when his kingdom, began to unravel did he come clean.

But that is small potatoes compared to his involvement in fund raising from optometrists who testified it was long common practice to write checks for political contributions without filling in the name of the payee. Mostly the head of their lobby kept the drawerful of checks and filled in the names as was politically expedient. But Mr. Black admits filling in a few himself. And then paying back the optometrists by pushing through a bill that made a $100 pre-school eye exam mandatory.

One of his top aides was on the payroll of a company try-ing to get the contract to operate the new state lottery. And one of his appointees to the lottery board was similarly compromised.

 The list goes on and we are asked to believe that Jim Black slogged through this muck as an innocent. No, it was more that he danced along the edge of the abyss artfully. But is that what we want for a state representative, for Speaker of the House? Do we want a man who needs scandal after scan-dal to trigger his epiphany and to motivate him to lead the charge to make these abuses illegal?
 Some things are just wrong. It doesn’t matter that they are legal or illegal. They are just wrong. Good and decent peo-ple don’t even need to be told they are wrong. They just know.

Jim Black hasn’t been able to tell the difference. For those of us who can, that failing on his part is fatal flaw enough.

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OUR VIEW: Black should step aside during probe

Elizabeth City Daily Advance

February 21, 2006

Democrats in North Carolina's state House are apparently no better at taking their leaders to task for misbehavior than their Republican counterparts in the U.S. Congress.

Just as GOP congressmen continued to insist that Tom DeLay keep his job as majority leader until the moment he was indicted for campaign financing abuses, House Democrats in North Carolina, too, have closed ranks around their guy, House Speaker Jim Black, apparently until that moment arrives for him.

Even the revelations from recent hearings about Black's alleged campaign finance abuses held by the State Board of Elections haven't convinced any Democrats that the four-term speaker should give up his leadership post, at least temporarily, while the probe continues.

According to the Associated Press, more than a dozen optometrists testified at the hearings about how they were asked to fill out checks for their optometric society's political action committee but leave the space for the payee's name blank. At least three of those checks eventually ended up in the campaign account of Michael Decker, a former House member from Forsyth County. Some of the checks even wound up in Decker's personal bank account.

How did they get there?

Well, according to testimony from the hearings, Black himself filled out Decker's name on at least three checks and disbursed them to his former colleague.

And exactly why was Black so generous to Decker?

To hear Black tell it, Decker deserved this special campaign help because he was a good friend and "team member" who worked closely with the House speaker. What Black continues to deny is what almost certainly was the real reason Decker was routed the optometrists' checks: Decker, a lifelong Republican, switched parties in 2003 to help Black gain enough Democratic votes to retain his job as House speaker. Because of an even split between Democrats and Republicans, Black and Republican Richard Morgan of Moore County were co-speakers of the House.

When initially asked about the payments he routed to Decker, Black told the State Board of Elections that he couldn't remember seeing any checks where the payee's name had been left blank. But when shown a $4,000 check made out to Decker around the time of his party-switching, Black acknowledged that it was his handwriting in the payee space.

His memory now fully recovered, Black said he was advised by lawyers that it was perfectly legal for him to fill in the name of a political ally on these checks from optometrists.

An investigator for the State Board of Elections begged to differ, telling the elections board what any reasonable person would assume from the facts: that funneling checks to unnamed candidates is a violation of state campaign finance laws. As a result, the board referred their evidence against Decker and the head of the optometrist PAC, Michael Scott Edwards, to Wake County prosecutors.

The board declined, however, to make a final judgment on Black's conduct, delaying action until it's had time to fully investigate apparently illegal campaign contributions the House speaker may have received from video poker interests. That probe should take about a month, the elections board said.

It's not a sure thing the elections board will determine that Black's actions were illegal. But until that determination is made, we think Black should, in the interest of good government, step aside as speaker of the House.

Bob Hall, of the government watchdog group Democracy North Carolina, says campaign finance abuses shouldn't have to rise to the level of indictment before someone finally takes a step to correct them. We agree. Democrats shouldn't wait until Black is indicted before asking him to step aside. Not unless they're prepared to defend DeLay's long wait to step down as Congress' majority leader.

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House Speaker Black lacks credibility to lead efforts for a cleaner N.C. government

Asheville Citizen- Times

2/18/06

State Democratic Party chairman Jerry Meek has proposed an ambitious 10-point package of governmental and campaign finance reforms that would go a long way to creating open and accountable government.

Among the recommendations: ban converting campaign funds to personal use, cut in half the maximum amount that could be contributed to candidates, implement immediately lobbyist disclosure rules designed to begin next year and create an independent ethics commission. Another important change would eliminate special provisions, used to slide programs or policy changes into the state budget without debate, and yet another would give legislators time to actually read the budget before voting on it.

The plan is sound. But there is a problem, and that is if anyone is to take it seriously, it needs strong standard bearers to lead it to approval.

Right now, one of those presumed standard bearers, House Speaker Jim Black, D-Mecklenburg, cannot possibly be a credible voice for reform. Black has not been charged with any crimes. But he is under a cloud of ethical woes linked to his dealings and the dealings of close associates. Just last week an investigator for the State Board of Elections reached the conclusion that Black’s campaign had run afoul of election laws. It went over the line by accepting contributions outside legal limits, handing out contributions in the name of another contributor. This is the latest stone tossed atop a mountain of allegations surrounding Black or close associates, and prosecutors at both the state and federal levels are looking into these allegations. Many of the charges relate to the state lottery, which Black was instrumental in pushing through. Others involve the ties Black, who is an optometrist, has to that profession. A controversial pre-kindergarten eye screening program was implemented by Black and has drawn much fire. And a federal grand jury is apparently asking questions about checks handed from optometrists to Black, who in turn handed them out to candidates of his choosing.

We need reform in Raleigh. We need it even worse in Washington, D.C. 2006 should be a year of reform from top to bottom.

Black doesn’t look like the person to lead that effort in North Carolina. There are practical and political reasons for the Democratic Party to look for a new speaker. On the political level Democrats should realize this is a matter of right and wrong, and also of survival. As state government columnist Scott Mooneyham notes, “Among the Republican crowd seeking office, the phrase ‘Jim Black’ will roll from the tongue more than ‘tax cut’ or even ‘illegal immigrant.’’’

The Democratic Party has a choice of leaving a millstone around its neck or not.

On the practical level, all North Carolinians deserve better. This is a time when the need for campaign and lobbying reforms are painfully obvious.

It doesn’t make any sense that the person with the legislative clout to get such reforms passed should also be the person who is the poster child for why such changes are necessary in the first place.

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Black should step down
Richmond County Daily Journal Editorial Board
February 14, 2006

A State Board of Elections investigator says House Speaker Jim Black’s campaign has violated state law by accepting excessive contributions, by giving money in the name of another contributor and by accepting more than $27,000 from businesses.

The investigator said Black himself is directly involved in several violations, including filling in the payee line on incomplete checks by other optometrists.

The board hasn’t taken any action on the allegations, and naturally, Black’s attorney says the speaker was in compliance with election laws.

What else would you expect him to say? But no matter what he’s saying, the mountain of accusations facing him seems to be screaming otherwise.

These possible infractions are the latest in a growing line of possible infractions involving the 70-year-old Democrat and/or his office. All of which makes us wonder if — or should we say “when will” — the old adage “where there’s smoke, there’s fire” prove true for the Mecklenburg lawmaker.

At the very least, Black’s stranglehold on the speakership has been weakened and the allegations have tainted the post.

It doesn’t help that other accusations include shady backroom dealings involving the pending education lottery, which is already the subject of a lawsuit that seeks to nullify the legislature’s close, controversial decision on it.

More and more, the optometrist’s future in the General Assembly is coming into focus.

It’s time for Black to step down.

We’re sure the video poker industry, which has bought and paid for his allegiance several times over, would welcome him as a spokesman. Or maybe he could be hired to treat joker poker players whose vision has been impaired from endless hours staring at and praying for Shamrock 7s.

Either way, Black must go.

Guilty or not, these mounting accusations have permanently eroded the speaker’s ability to lead the junior chamber. The longer he stays, the more damage he does to his office — and the good people of North Carolina.

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Black's past is back

Daily Tar Heel

February 15, 2006

With doubts about his questionable integrity growing each day, N.C. House Speaker Jim Black should resign his position of leadership.

One of the keys to winning in poker is knowing when to hold your cards and when to throw them in and fold.

As more and more of the questionable - that's putting it politely - fundraising activities of N.C. House Speaker Jim Black, D-Mecklenburg, come to light, it is becoming increasingly clear that it's time for him to fold 'em.

Black has been awash in controversy for a while now - from shady, back-room dealings to passing on sketchy campaign checks. Because of these repeated issues, he no longer is worthy of the office of speaker of the General Assembly.

The most recent allegations come from the N.C. Board of Elections. On Friday members accused Black's campaign of accepting contributions more than the legal limit, contributing money with another contributor's name and accepting more than $27,000 in illegal business contributions.

If these were the first accusations of impropriety to be leveled against our fair speaker, calling for him to surrender his gavel would be premature.

However, the accusations are part of a long line of behavior that calls into question too much and shakes the public's general faith in the assembly.

The cozy relationship that Black, his staff and the lottery lobby shared, as revealed in the fall, is just another glaring example of activities that have prompted us to give him the all-too-fitting moniker of "Slim Shady."

After all this corruption - or at least the appearance of corruption - it's unclear to what extent the people of North Carolina can have confidence in his leadership of its legislative body.

It has yet to be determined whether Black will be held accountable for his actions before his peers. As of this moment, there have been no formal charges pressed against him.

But even up in our ivory tower, we can see that Tar Heels deserve better than what they're getting from the speaker.

Even if Black is indeed an honorable man, one who is innocent of the charges leveled against him, he still should do the right thing.

For the sake of the speaker's integrity, he must rest his hand and pass the gavel.

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Now will Black finally go?

Wilmington Star News

2/10/06

Two more of Jim Black?s buddies have been accused of crimes ? one of violating the laws governing ?campaign contributions,? the other of accepting some of that loot about the time he was doing a huge political favor for Black.

These gents join Black?s former ?unpaid political director? in the squinty glare of prosecutors. She?s accused of lobbying for the lottery but not registering as a lobbyist.

In the latest case, optometrist Black was the connection between optometrists? funny money and the grateful recipient. If those transactions are found to be illegal, how could Black?s hands be clean? He even filled out some of the checks.

If Black doesn?t have the decency and good sense to resign as the leader of N.C. House Democrats, Democrats ought to remove him. If they don?t care about ethics, and apparently many don?t, you?d think they?d at least care about their own political futures.

Black and his lawyers point out that, though state and federal officials are sniffing around him, he hasn?t been formally accused of a crime. Not yet.

But Jim Black is the hub of a wheel of corruption, greased with money.

Do Democrats really want that wobbling under their wagon?

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Democrats suffer from blurry vision

Hendersonville Times-News

February 10, 2006

At some point, Jim Black’s allies in the state House and Democratic allies are going to have to come to grips with reality.

A campaign donation bundling scheme, his connections with lottery lobbyists and legislation to benefit his fellow optometrists amount to serious ethics violations at the very least.

It will be a miracle — or a testament of the power of Raleigh Democrats to protect their own no matter what — if no indictments come out of the cesspool of activity coming to light this week in a hearing before the state Board of Elections.

Yet, no matter what new evidence comes out in a parade of damning corruption disclosures, none is jarring enough to trigger outrage from his own caucus. No prominent Democratic leader has called for Black’s resignation as speaker or from his House seat. Even Tom DeLay could not manage this level of meritless fealty.

The state Board of Elections is hearing sworn testimony about the thousands of dollars in checks channeled from the state’s optometrists to Black and his allies.

Black’s executive assistant and his former political director testified Thursday that they were unaware of the apparently common practice by optometrists of breaking larger campaign donations into individual checks of $100 each.

On Wednesday 12, optometrists testified that campaign checks they gave to the N.C. State Optometric Society’s political action committee left blank the date and the payee line.

More optometrists testified Thursday that checks they wrote, instead of going to campaign accounts, were cashed by former Rep. Michael Decker and Rep. Howard Hunter, a Hertford County Democrat. The $100 increments allowed the PAC to avoid the state law on campaign finance disclosure. The name and occupation of the donor must be disclosed for amounts greater than $100.

The bundling of $100 checks also could have allowed the PAC to violate the donation limit of $4,000 per candidate.

The optometry society PAC gave Decker $4,000 in late January 2003. The next month, the PAC apparently funneled more money to Decker using checks from optometrists that were written for $100 or less with no payee written in, the News & Observer reported.

Decker is the Forsyth County Republican whose switch to the Democratic Party in 2003 deadlocked the House and allowed Black to retain the speakership in a power-sharing agreement with state Rep. Richard Morgan, a Moore County Republican.

Most of the checks examined by the board were written in 2002 but not cashed until 2003, after Decker’s party switch, records show.

Optometrists’ investment in Black’s schemes paid off when the speaker forced through a bill — opposed by the state Pediatric Society and others — requiring eye exams before North Carolina children started school.

“You’ve got half of the picture, or a third of the picture, and some of it is quite misleading,” Black said Wednesday.

To the least sentient observer, the picture actually is coming into sharp focus. If Black does not see the need to step down, his party members, including Gov. Mike Easley, ought to deliver the message: It’s time for you to go.

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Black should vacate speaker’s post

High Point Enterprise

2/5/06

With a State Board of Elections hearing set to begin in Raleigh Wednesday on questions surrounding N.C. House Speaker Jim Black, today would be a good time for the Charlotte Democrat to step aside as speaker and focus on efforts to clear his name.

It must be noted that Black, who has been speaker or co-speaker since 1999, has not been accused of any wrongdoing. But he is a target in several investigations that have been going on over the last few months, and some of his actions in office have been the source of a number of complaints and harsh criticism.