Our Representatives Due More Respect
Monday, August 12, 2002

What a spectacle it was in the supposedly dignified halls of the North Carolina General Assembly last week.

There was Franklin Freeman, the governor's $139,625-a-year lobbyist, running up and down the halls ordering aides to "Stand by the doors and don't let anybody out."

Keep in mind, it was members of their own party - Democratic House members - whose arms they were trying to twist to preserve new funding for Gov. Mike Easley's "More at Four" program. They wanted to keep a $28 million appropriation to expand the program.

The photo on the front of the Raleigh News & Observer captured the scene perfectly - Mr. Freeman flinging his arms, his coat waving in the breeze, and one of his aides rushing to enforce the governor's wishes.

Aides and Democratic leaders were willing to do anything to keep the governor from being embarrassed by members of his own party who only wanted to vote their honest convictions. Here is how the Raleigh paper reported the funding's "near-death experience."

"By a one-vote margin, Republicans on the Appropriations Committee cut $28 million from More at Four and shifted the money to restore funding to a range of health-care programs for the elderly that are slated to be cut."

"The Democratic leadership then pressured Democratic Rep. Alice Underhill of New Bern, who had voted with the Republicans, to make a motion for the vote to be reconsidered. Underhill did so and then left the room and appeared upset.

"As the committee began the crucial vote to restore More at Four funding, Easley's chief lobbyist, Franklin Freeman, and other aides ran toward the committee room. Freeman ordered, 'Stand by the doors and don't let anybody out.'

"The committee restored the money on a 42-40 party-line vote.

"Rep. Gregg Thompson, a Spruce Pine Republican, said ... 'I think the governor lost his program in an open democratic process. ... By having one Democrat vote her convictions, that left open the door to have her pressured and her arm twisted. That occurred.

Every door was covered by a member of the governor's staff to make sure the Democratic members did not leave the room." Gov. Easley is willing to cut vital services for senior citizens in order to fund an unproven experimental program.

Rep. Alice Underhill, according to the Raleigh paper, said she "could not in good conscience vote to expand More at Four when vital services for seniors were being cut."

While she didn't vote to expand the program, her capitulation at the hand of Majority Leader Phil Baddour is what protected the appropriation.

Citizens have every reason to expect their elected representatives to have a voice in Raleigh. But when the governor's strong men make sure the members are really representing the governor instead of their constituents, democracy is not advanced.

The governor should show the people's representatives more respect.

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Paul L. Long