North Carolina Grange members were among Grange representatives from across the country who convened for a two-day conference at National Grange Headquarters, which is near the White House. Almost 40 North Carolina members participated.
The Tar Heel delegation had scheduled appointments at the offices of all 13 representatives and both senators.
Peterson advised Congressman Bob Etheridge, the Democrat representing the 2nd District, that a tobacco buyout is a necessity for North Carolina tobacco farm families. She also pointed out that agri-business is the state’s number one industry.
Sen. Elizabeth Dole joined the Grange members for lunch at the Longworth House Office Building. Both Dole and Etheridge addressed the delegation.
REAGAN DAY — George Little, the first announced Republican candidate for governor, is expected to participate in the Reagan Day Dinner on June 5 at the Holiday Inn of Southern Pines.
The keynote speaker for the fund-raiser will be one of Little’s prospective rivals for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, state Senate Republican Leader Patrick Ballantine of New Hanover County. However, Little and other statewide candidates will be given an opportunity to speak.
The event will begin at 6 p.m. with a private reception for sponsors, hosts and patrons. The dinner and program will begin at 7 p.m. Vocalist Alice Glisson will perform during the program.
Elizabeth Kelly, chairwoman of the Moore County Republican Party, said that this year’s dinner is shaping up to be one of the county party’s best and most profitable dinners in party history.
The dinner costs $50 per person, and openings remain. The phone numbers for reservations is 639-1839 or 692-2476 or online at www.mooregop.com.
STATE BUDGET — Hopes for an early June adjournment for the N.C. General Assembly were dashed this week when members of the budget conference committee hit a snag in negotiating differences between House and Senate versions of the budget.
Each chamber developed its own budget of about $15 billion.
Senators complained at the Wednesday committee meeting that the House budget contains $200 million in Medicaid cuts but does not indicate how those cuts will be accomplished. Senators also questioned $20 million in across-the board cuts and a $70 million reduction in “clean water” funds.
BROADCAST — U.S. Sen. John Edwards this week joined opponents of a proposed relaxation in broadcast ownership regulations.
Edwards has urged the Federal Communications Commission not to relax media ownership rules and warned that such changes would open a path for broadcast conglomerates to swallow up community-oriented television and radio stations.
“Diversity in the media is enormously important to our democracy,” Edwards said in a letter to FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell. “Americans should have choices in the music they can hear and the television programs they can watch.”
The commission is scheduled to vote on June 2 on a Powell proposal that would allow broadcast networks to buy more stations. Under current rules, networks may own local stations that collectively reach no more than 35 percent of the nationwide audience. Powell’s proposal would raise the cap to 45 percent.
