Ethics Reforms -"Don’t Let Them Get Away"

NCGOP Chairman To NC Dem Chairman: "Don’t Let Them Get Away"

Blount sends letter to Meek urging action on ethics reform With the General Assembly planning to head home in a few days, Ferrell Blount, Chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party, sent a letter to his counterpart pushing for ethics reforms in the General Assembly. In the public letter, Blount encouraged Democrat State Party Chairman Jerry Meek to follow his lead by contacting legislators and delivering a clear message: do not leave Raleigh without passing ethics reforms.

"The clock is ticking," wrote Blount. "[I]t troubles me to think that despite the high minded talk earlier this year by our state legislators the legislature will adjourn without passing comprehensive ethics reform! … My actions alone will not be enough. Your party is in the majority in both houses."

Blount went on to write that both the Republican and Democrat Party Platforms call for elected officials to hold the highest ethical standards.

It has not been unusual for Chairman Blount to write Chairman Meek.

In February, Blount proposed to hold a joint press conference where the two party leaders would urge the citizens of North Carolina to contact members of the General Assembly and demand that ethics reforms be enacted into law. Meek declined, deferring to the House Select Committee on Ethics and Governmental Reform, which was set up by Speaker Jim Black.

In April, Blount wrote Meek and asked for him to call on House Speaker Jim Black to resign. This came after dozens of newspaper editorials and several Democrats in both chambers of the N.C. General Assembly called for Jim Black to step aside. Meek refused."

I always thought that Jerry and I were going to have to work together to ensure that ethics reforms are passed," said Blount. "The time to act is now, and I hope Chairman Meek will work with me this time."

There are some issues that should be above partisan politics, including an honest, ethical government. Republicans have introduced bills for years that contained ethics reforms, and the Democrat leadership refused to consider them. It is unfortunate that it has taken a major scandal involving House Speaker Jim Black for Democrats to take these proposals seriously."

Click here to view the letter...