In today’s News & Observer story
about Jim Black’s resignation and expected guilty plea, Senate
President Pro Tem Marc Basnight has this to say about the idea of term
limits for General Assembly leadership:
“I know the way we operate. I like the way we operate. I believe the members like the way we operate.”
For the uninitiated, here are just some of the reasons that Basnight and his fellow members like the way they operate:
Thwarting businesses who won’t “play ball” with them.
Tax breaks and payouts for businesses they favor.
Allowing increased public debt without a public vote.
Taking public money for their personal enterprises.
Slush funds through agencies they control via political appointments.
Drawing districts to keep themselves in power.
Public financing of boondoggle projects favored by their cronies.
And there are so many more reasons…
