Fun Facts - North Carolina Legislature

I subscribe to a few sources that provide me instant links with various news stories and related activities of the North Carolina Legislature. No, it's not enough to penetrate the veil of darkness and shadow in which this group operates, but it does give a little insight into what's going on.

I recently got a notice about a government site that listed "Fun Facts About the NC Legislature." I couldn't resist following and reading that link (your tax dollars at work). They only listed six facts, but I thought I might help them out by providing the REAL answers to their facts... Fun Fact #1:

When is the Legislature in Session?

Their answer:

Every other January after election years.

The real answer:
Whenever they damn well feel like it. They start out in January, but they stay in session as long as they feel like getting paid -- they get paid for as long as the session takes. And you won't find them Monday mornings or Friday evenings, as they start late Monday and leave early Friday -- so they really only meet 3 days a week.

Not a bad deal, eh? Earn $30-40K per year, plus expenses, plus per diem, and work 3 days a week for as long as you feel like it. Yet North Carolina claims to have a "part-time" legislature.

Fun Fact #2:

Who can be a Legislator?

Their answer:

Every NC voter who is at least 21 years of age is eligible to run for public office.

The real answer:
HA! Did you notice how they worded that answer? "is eligible to run." That's not the question that was asked, was it? Who can really be a legislator? Only those who the current leadership and party leadership deem worthy, especially in the Democrat party.

There's a few exceptions to this rule (mainly in districts or areas they don't really care about because the gerrymandering guarantees them total control forever), but in general, you must receive permission to be a legislator -- and if you get the permission, you pretty much automatically win. It's a dirty, crooked system, but it works, right?

Fun Fact #3:

How much do Legislators get paid?

Their answer:

Position	Annual Income	Monthly Allowance
Speaker of the House	$38,151	$1,413
President Pro Tempore of the Senate	$38,151	$1,413
Speaker Pro Tempore of the House	$21,739	$836
Deputy President Pro Tempore of the Senate	$21,739	$836
Majority and Minority Leaders	$17,048	$666
Other Members	*$13,951	$559
	*(as of 1997)

The real answer:
Remember, the annual income column they get automatically -- no matter how long they are in session. They could meet for a week and get paid that amount. The monthly allowance is the additional cash they get while in session, plus additional expenses.

Oh, and then there's the bribes. High ranking legislators spend over $100,000 (way over in some cases) running for election. Can anyone explain to me how or why someone would spend over $100,000 for a $20-$30K a year job? I didn't think so.

Fun Fact #4:

Where does the Legislature convene?

Their answer:

The Legislative Building

The real answer:
Ok, they got that one right.

Fun Fact #5:

The Leadership of the State of North Carolina

Their answer:

Visit the web page, there's too many to list here.

The real answer:
Did you catch that? The page lists 6 fun facts -- 5 of which are questions and one that is a sentence fragment. Weird facts, huh?

In reality, the Leadership of the State is Representative Jim Black, Senators Marc Basnight, and to a lesser degree, Governor Mike Easley. Anything those first two names want, quite without exception, they get. Everyone else just helps them and support them.

Fun Fact #6:

How many Legislators are there?

Their answer:

The real answer:
No, really! If you follow their link to the answer to that question, you get a blank page. I'm not touching that answer with a ten-foot pole!

Posted by: Ogre at 05:04 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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