Our Hero

Legislative Democrats need to extend a laurel and hearty handshake to Republican Rep. Mike Stone of Sanford. Less than a month into the session, he has dragged his party into controversy over secrecy, special interests and pay-to-play – the very sins the GOP inveighed against in last year’s campaign.
 
And I warned them.
 
In a breathtaking display of bipartisanship, I reached across the aisle last week to offer my advice to Speaker Thom Tillis. (See “Earth to Tillis” below). Most of all, I said, don’t provoke Andy Curliss and the N&O.
 
After getting kicked out of the House Republicans’ closed-door meeting with video gambling lobbyists, Curliss apparently drove straight to Sanford, where he reported:
 
“The state lawmaker who led a closed-door committee meeting last week for House Republicans to hear from lobbyists and special interests on video gambling is, himself, in the gambling business.”
 
Curliss then interviewed Stone, who proceeded to hit for the cycle in the foot-in-mouth competition.
 
First Stone said the state should stay out of video gambling and let small businessmen like himself run video gambling.
 
Then, in the middle of the interview, he had a sudden road-to-Damascus conversion. The scales fell from his eyes, he saw the light and he declared that he would remove the terminals from his store and sin no more.
 
But he wasn’t finished. Next, he threw the Speaker under the bus:
 
“Stone downplayed his role in the meeting and said the agenda was put together by the office of House Speaker Thom Tillis. Stone said he had nothing to do with the lineup of lobbyists: ‘It came from Tillis’ office’.”
 
Then he moved on to the lobbyists.
 
Asked about a $500 campaign contribution he received from a video-gambling supporter, Stone “said he believed that an industry lobbyist, Gardner Payne, was likely involved in directing the check his way.”
 
Stone professed no knowledge of how he came to receive the money.
 
“It just came in through the mail,” he said.
 
Lo and behold, a miracle! Manna falling from heaven.
 
Mr. Speaker, I appeal to you. Keep this man in place. He is on his way to becoming the Democrats’ MVP this season – er, session.
 
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Gary Pearce

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Our Hero

Legislative Democrats need to extend a laurel and hearty handshake to Republican Rep. Mike Stone of Sanford. Less than a month into the session, he has dragged his party into controversy over secrecy, special interests and pay-to-play – the very sins the GOP inveighed against in last year’s campaign.
 
And I warned them.
 
In a breathtaking display of bipartisanship, I reached across the aisle last week to offer my advice to Speaker Thom Tillis. (See “Earth to Tillis” below). Most of all, I said, don’t provoke Andy Curliss and the N&O.
 
After getting kicked out of the House Republicans’ closed-door meeting with video gambling lobbyists, Curliss apparently drove straight to Sanford, where he reported:
 
“The state lawmaker who led a closed-door committee meeting last week for House Republicans to hear from lobbyists and special interests on video gambling is, himself, in the gambling business.”
 
Curliss then interviewed Stone, who proceeded to hit for the cycle in the foot-in-mouth competition.
 
First Stone said the state should stay out of video gambling and let small businessmen like himself run video gambling.
 
Then, in the middle of the interview, he had a sudden road-to-Damascus conversion. The scales fell from his eyes, he saw the light and he declared that he would remove the terminals from his store and sin no more.
 
But he wasn’t finished. Next, he threw the Speaker under the bus:
 
“Stone downplayed his role in the meeting and said the agenda was put together by the office of House Speaker Thom Tillis. Stone said he had nothing to do with the lineup of lobbyists: ‘It came from Tillis’ office’.”
 
Then he moved on to the lobbyists.
 
Asked about a $500 campaign contribution he received from a video-gambling supporter, Stone “said he believed that an industry lobbyist, Gardner Payne, was likely involved in directing the check his way.”
 
Stone professed no knowledge of how he came to receive the money.
 
“It just came in through the mail,” he said.
 
Lo and behold, a miracle! Manna falling from heaven.
 
Mr. Speaker, I appeal to you. Keep this man in place. He is on his way to becoming the Democrats’ MVP this season – er, session.
 
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Gary Pearce

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