Greensboro Chamber of Commerce Top 3 Salaries total $674,435

Here is a picture of the top 3 salaries at the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce 990 report with total compensation for Patrick Danahy, Deborah Hooper and Dan Lynch= $674,435. Shake your head on this one.

SIT-IN MOVEMENT INC [56-1856093] GuideStar Report

SIT-IN MOVEMENT INC [56-1856093] GuideStar Report





2009 sit in movement inc 990 form

Third Time's Not The Charm on Guilford County Voters on The 1/4 Cent Tax

regional brief from john locke foundation on guilford county 1/4 cent tax referendum


With permission from the John Locke Foundation CLICKHERE and John Hood this report above is a must read for all Guilford County voters because everyone will be asked to increase their taxes this November and as we have seen in past that it has been rejected 2 times before and with the title hopefully it will not happen and third time's not the charm. Please read the scribd version embedded above in this post.

Here is a quote from the report that sums it all up
"Running up excessive debt during good times and taxing in bad times is not a fiscally responsible way to operate a county. Voters are angry at government at all levels — federal, state, and local — because elected offcials promise to be good stewards of hard-earned taxpayer money and then break their promises with excessive spending. Voters in Guilford County have a chance to send the county commissioners a message on November 2. "

That message is to vote NO for a tax increase on November 2, 2010. Please feel free to forward this post to all voters in Guilford County and share with them our frustration at plenty of our Guilford County Commissioners who decided to do this at the last minute and put this on the ballot.

If you would like a little more enlightenment on the past history please enjoy a post over at guarino's blog CLICKHERE with a title "The Guilford County Sales Tax Increase Proposal".

Then in the past few weeks we learn that the usual suspects over at our special interest lobbyist group from the development industry TREBIC is now involved with making this tax increase happen by forming a referendum committee called Quarter Cent Makes Sense with the first donation of $500 coming from the Greensboro Partnership, how nice.Here is some discussion over at guarino's blog on this angle of the committee CLICKHERE

It is time to send a message to our local politicians that enough is enough and on November 2, 2010 VOTE NO to the 1/4 cent tax increase.

Simkins PAC is in Bed with Action Greensboro Illegally

The George C Simkins Jr. Memorial Political Action Committee 3rd Quarter reports reveals a relationship that behind the scenes has been talked about but now is there for all to see .

To see the 3rd quarter report click on the title above or CLICKHERE , then click on the Simkins PAC then proceed to the report.

The treasurer for the Simkins PAC is non other than Melvin "Skip" Alston Guilford County Commissioner as reported in TRIADWATCH, Mr. Alston needs to understand North Carolina Laws and how they work in regards to campaign contributions.

If you can see the 3rd quarter report it shows that Action Greensboro gave $5,000 to the Simkins PAC.

Action Greensboro is a member of the
Greensboro Partnership, and is united
with Greensboro Economic Development
Alliance and the Greensboro
Chamber of Commerce to form
a more powerful, unified voice
for economic development, urban
livability, and business growth.

Under North Carolina General Statute

§ 163‑278.19. Violations by corporations, business entities, labor unions, professional associations and insurance companies.
(a) Except as provided in subsections (a2), (b), (d), (e), (f), and (g) of this section it shall be unlawful for any corporation, business entity, labor union, professional association or insurance company directly or indirectly:
(1) To make any contribution to a candidate or political committee or to make any expenditure to support or oppose the nomination or election of a clearly identified candidate;
(2) To pay or use or offer, consent or agree to pay or use any of its money or property for any contribution to a candidate or political committee or for any expenditure to support or oppose the nomination or election of a clearly identified candidate; or
(3) To compensate, reimburse, or indemnify any person or individual for money or property so used or for any contribution or expenditure so made
________________________________________________________

The Action Greensboro $5,000 contribution to the Simkins PAC was reported under line 6 which is contributions from indviduals. Please explain how Action Greensboro is a contribution from a indvidual? It is also illegal for a professional association, corporation or business entity to contribute to a political committee. Please explain how Action Greensboro gave $5,000 to the Simkins PAC?Action Greensboro is a 501c-3 organization, can a not for-profit organization give to a PAC?It is also a limit of $4,000 to give to a North Carolina registered PAC, How can Action Greensboro give $5,000. These are the questions that need to get answered.

TRIADWATCH will be sending a letter to the North Carolina Board of Election on this issue and to see the legalities of this contribution to this Political Action Committee.

This cozy relationship between 2 powerbrokers in Guilford County has been talked about for a long time but to see Action Greensboro give money to the Simkins PAC either by mistake or out in the open for everyone to see, shows all the citizens of Guilford County the foxes who are guarding the hen house.

__________________________________________________

3 other post on this issue

Guarino CLICKHERE
Hogg's Blog CLICKHERE
Billy the Blogging Poet CLICKHERE

_______________________________________________________

UPDATE,
A letter has been sent to the North Carolina Board of Elections on 11-14-08 to answer questions on this questionable contribution of Action Greensboro to the Simkins PAC.

Mere Compliance VS. Ethics Reform in North Carolina Letter from Foundation for Ethics in Public Service

With permission from Hayley at the Foundation for Ethics in Public Service. Below is a letter from Executive Director Les Merritt.

MERE COMPLIANCE VS. ETHICS REFORM

While the Foundation for Ethics in Public Service CLICKHERE provides a service to the public nationwide, we are based in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is no secret that in the recent past North Carolina has had its fair share of public officials with ethics problems, and some continue to be under the scrutiny of prosecutors, law enforcement, and federal grand juries. When the North Carolina State Government Ethics Act was signed into law in 2006, many hoped that unethical conduct on the part of public officials in the state would at best decrease and at worst be exposed and investigated. Unfortunately, neither has been realized.

The high profile cases of former Speaker of the House Jim Black, former Legislator Mike Decker, former NC Lottery Commissioner Kevin Geddings, former US Congressman Frank Balance, former Commissioner of Agriculture Meg Scott Phipps, and others led to the establishment of a more formal ethics entity for the state of North Carolina. There was hope that establishing a structured and proactive Ethics Commission would thwart unethical behavior on the part of public officials in our state. This sentiment if not expectation was framed by the Commission’s Executive Director when he wrote, “On August 4th, 2006, Governor Easley signed the ‘State Government Ethics Act’ into law. It is the most comprehensive and sweeping ethics law in the history of the State and was the result of a tremendous bipartisan effort in both the House and Senate”. The same publication quotes then Governor Easley to the effect “North Carolina citizens have the right to know that the power they entrust to public officials is not abused for private gain or personal interest.” (attributed to Governor Michael F. Easley, 8/4/06, upon signing HB1843 [State Government Ethics Act], NC Board of Ethics Newsletter, Vol. 9, Issue 8).

However, in nearly three years of existence, the Commission has done little to tackle real ethics issues in our state. Not a single resolution of note has come as a result of any Ethics Commission investigation, even though several dozen complaints have been submitted or referred. For example, the media has reported that former Governor Mike Easley allegedly failed to disclose a seemingly inappropriate relationship on his Statement of Economic Interest, but this went undetected, or perhaps unchallenged, by the Ethics Commission. Meanwhile, a Board of Elections investigation continues into alleged campaign finance violations by former Governor Mike Easley, as well as a federal grand jury investigation of how his wife, Mary, obtained her position (and subsequent 80% raise) at North Carolina State University. These are only a few of the many aspects of possible violations of honest services law apparently before a federal grand jury. None of these issues appears to have been surfaced or investigated by the Ethics Commission. Earlier in the year, Ethics Commission staff said publicly on several occasions that a testament to the ethics and high moral quality of the public servants and legislators of North Carolina is the fact that there have been no substantiated cases resulting from allegations submitted to the Ethics Commission to date.

One has to wonder what exactly is the point of having an Ethics Commission if it is not going to take its role as an investigative or enforcement entity seriously. Do we really need to have ten salaried employees to file financial paperwork and offer advisory opinions? Also, the eight Commissioners who are expected to serve the public as an effective regulatory and watchdog entity have been silent in the face of the State’s continuing ethics crisis. The Commission has entirely too much discretion to ignore or dismiss complaints that come through its office. There is little to prevent management at the Commission from failing to aggressively investigate complaints against those who show political favor or exercise financial and administrative control over the Commission’s operations and budget. Since the General Assembly controls the purse strings of the Ethics Commission, how can the Commission effectively police the same agency that makes its existence possible? By the admission of its own Executive Director, the Ethics Commission is actually more of a compliance or conflict of interest entity than an “ethics” agency. The Ethics Commission must act with accountability and independence, and certainly needs oversight by the citizens who pay them. Since it is difficult to legislate “doing the right thing” as state government is currently structured (e.g. with an Ethics Commission whose members are appointed by political leaders and whose funding is controlled by those on whom it may receive an allegation of wrongdoing), the media becomes not only more relevant, but essential to counter public corruption. It also is essential that non-governmental, independent organizations such as the Foundation for Ethics in Public Service assist the media with investigating and exposing cases of corruption. We are a non-partisan, non-profit organization that does not rely upon the potential or actual subjects of complaints for financial support. Since we do not accept any government money, we are able to freely, fairly, and forthrightly examine all complaints that are received by our office without the fear of being retaliated against by those with political influence, before passing credible allegations on to our colleagues in the media. It is clear that such independent oversight must be as non-partisan, objective, careful, and absent of any zealotry, as all local, state, and federal oversight agencies are expected to be. But one difference is clear: conflict of interest and political influence are much less likely – hopefully absent – when the investigative, referral, and reporting process are in the hands of a non-governmental, non-partisan entity like the Foundation for Ethics in Public Service. Our donors, complainants, witnesses, and the greater public expect, and will receive, nothing less than unconditional objectivity.

Les Merritt

Foundation for Ethics in Public Service

Executive Director

Has the Piedmont Triad Become an “Ethics Free Zone”?

Has the Piedmont Triad become an “Ethics Free Zone”?


Corporations and developers who purchase “Stakeholder” seats on land-use/transportation planning committees, allowing no collaboration with anyone outside their inner circles until their “preferred concepts” are in place, have usurped planning in North Carolina to promote financial self-interests. These highly concentrated “Authority and Agency” Boards receive federal, state, and local taxpayer funds and proceed with shameless impunity.

Does the “Global Transpark Authority” membership have financial responsibility to the taxpayers? They don’t have the cash to pay off the $32.1 million they own to NC (Escheats fund) or the $18.1 million they owe to the Federal Aviation Administration according to a 2008 audit.

Last week, Piedmont Triad Partnership President, Don Kirkman who makes $225,102 a year told landowners that the Aerotropolis Leadership Board meetings aren’t open to the public, even though they receive government funding and they are controlling land-use and transportation planning for thousands of acres in the Triad. Aerotropolis is simply the shark who ate Heart of the Triad.

Well, residents are on to a much larger issue. Representatives Pricey Harrison and Larry Brown, agree that PTP is shading transparency and believe that the board is subject to “Open Meetings Law” because it is tied to a group that receives state and local funding. Mike Tadych, Attorney for the NC Press Association agrees. “We believe it is both a public body subject to the Open Meetings Law and a public agency subject to Open Records Law. The fact that it was formed as a not-for-profit corporation is not really relevant to the analysis of whether it is required to comply with these open government statutes.”

It is also my belief that since the Piedmont Triad Partnership is a non-profit 501(c)3 meaning that they are being given tax breaks by the American public, may not be a valid argument for them to attempt to use to justify closed meetings. On the contrary, it may be a further argument that it is improper for them to hold closed meetings.

Shouldn’t all Authorities, chartered by the NC General Assembly and Agencies receiving public funding be subject to NC ethics policies and laws? It’s past time for these public/private partnerships to be held accountable to the taxpayers.

Cathy M. Poole

Coalition of Concerned Citizens of the Triad

Transparency Transparency Where Have You Been? Here Comes The Sunlight Foundation

When it comes to Transparency, there hasn't been a time like the last four weeks since our movement for an open government began.
We're on the verge of having two government transparency bills to rally behind in the House and Senate.
*the White House is hosting the Open Government Initiative to seek our best ideas in making government more open and participatory.
*thousands of new government data feeds are available through Data.gov (and we're making sure technologists around the country use it with the Apps for America 2 competition).
*the Speaker of the House has required an unprecedented level of disclosure for House Member expenditures.
*people are checking out the makeover we gave the Supreme Court. (Their website that is.)
Big month! ...and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

What's beyond exciting for me as the new engagement director at Sunlight is to be able to jump in with all of you and keep this momentum up in Congress, in every government agency, and into the states. Were the DC summer humidity not already so overpowering, one might conjur rapidly growing snowballs. But I digress.

We want to make sure you know what's going on - and more importantly, hear what you have to say - so below is a first in what we'd like to be a bigger and longer conversation with you about what's happening to open our government because of your support.Our aim is simple: make sure we're all as informed and engaged as possible because we are taking on a monumental mission, and it's going to take all of us.

We have a lot to do to turn our government into the transparent and accountable body it was always intended to be, but there are great strides being made every day as we bring our elected leaders into the Sunlight. Take a moment and be optimistic - even if you do work in politics!

I just called a CVS on Capitol Hill and they're all stocked up on sunblock. It's a good thing, because through this summer and beyond, we're thrilled to be working with you all to make sure our leaders need much, much more of it

.Jake Brewer

Engagement Director, Sunlight Foundation CLICKHERE

jbrewer@sunlightfoundation.com

More Sunlight...

- Thousands of you joined Sunlight to demand that Congress actually Read the Bill they write before it's allowed to have an impact on our lives. Amazing that congress has been allowed to operate this long without reading their legislation, but we have been seeing great progress toward making that a requirement. We just received word that there is now bipartisan sponsorship for a new 72-hour rule bill to be introduced next week. Granted, it's ridiculous that we need a law to tell those elected to serve us that they must make time to read legislation before signing it, but since we do, we'll make sure our voice is heard with a goal of delivering at least 15,000 petition signatures.

- On the Senate side, we're finally seeing headway on S.482 which will require Senate offices to report their campaign finances online. This is another no-brainer, folks. Thankfully, the Majority Leader's office has asked that it be pushed through. Sunlight's "lobbyist that lobbyist's love to hate," Lisa Rosenberg, is keeping us updated on what actions we can take, and we'll be sure to do the same for you.

- Nearly 1,000 technologists around the country have now joined Sunlight Labs in discussing, sharing, and creating applications for government through the Labs' first and now SECOND Apps for America competition. This is truly remarkable. Much of the data underneath government lies only in dark, locked recesses, and this growing army is on the front lines of shining Sunlight where it's never been before. Remember that scene in Indiana Jones where the government hides the Arc of the Covenant in that big warehouse? These guys are digging it out. Join the conversation if you're a developer; it's at least as fun as World of Warcraft ...maybe more.

- In rethinking transparency in government, we're also rethinking what it looks like. At least online. The latest in our Redesigning Government series - the Supreme Court - has gotten a lot of attention, and it's no surprise that the White House's Data.gov looks an awful lot like our mock ups. Have other ideas for sites we should help the government rethink? Send your suggestions our way!

- Our Transparency blogger network continues to grow, and we were excited this week to meet with folks from the Open Kansas Initiative. It's the type of work that we think can be replicated by active citizens in every state, and we're going to be working with people in as many states as possible to support and connect these efforts. One quick way to stay informed is to join our Transparency Blogger list-serve if thinking and writing about Transparency is up your alley.

- With House member expenditures being made open and online (an important first step in disclosure), lobbying parties heating up for the summer months (baseball tickets are all the rage apparently), and with quarterly earmark disclosures coming soon, there's going to be a lot more from our Real Time Investigations team and Party Time blogs. These are some of the crucial places online where reporters and citizen journalists come to get the scoop underneath government stories, so if you have a lead or get party invitations, please send them along
- Over the next few weeks, we're going to be launching several new insanely useful web platforms that we're eager to work with you on. Keep an eye out for the redesign of OpenCongress.org and the launch of a nationwide initiative we're calling Transparency Corps!

(this post was approved by Mr. Brewer for posting on Triadwatch)

Blue Cross Blue Shield of N.C. and the Near-Bankrupt State Health Plan

Memo about Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC with permission to post from Democracy North Carolina CLICKHERE

March 2009

With “Sunshine Week” upon us, we’ve been asked to use state and federal campaign finance disclosure laws to shed more light on the ongoing news story about Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, the near-bankrupt State Health Plan, and legislative oversight of health policy.

An analysis by Democracy North Carolina reveals that no other company the size of Blue Cross has donated more to state politics through its political action committee –- a total of $643,000 from the 2000 election cycle through 2008. Seven company-backed PACs have given more, like those of the big banks and utilities, but all seven of those corporations operate in multiple states and are much larger than Blue Cross. As a not-for-profit corporation, Blue Cross is in a class of its own.

Who are the top recipients of the contributions from the Blue Cross PAC for 2000-2008?

Number One is state Sen. Tony Rand (Democratic Majority Leader and chair of the Senate Select Committee on Employee Hospital and Medical Benefits), who received $36,000. Number Two is Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight, who received $35,000. Senate Democrat David Hoyle is next, and several Republicans make it among the top 15 recipients, including former House Speakers Harold Brubaker and Richard Morgan, Rep. Jerry Dockham, and Senators Phil Berger and Tom Apodaca.

Blue Cross has been in the news for the generous payments it receives for administering the health insurance plan for state employees. While the State Health Plan is hemorrhaging, Blue Cross has amassed a reserve fund in excess of $1.2 billion for its three million customers across the state; it rewarded its top six executives with a total of $10.5 million in salaries and bonuses during 2008. The company denies it got a sweetheart deal from special legislation authorizing its no-bid contract for running the State Health Plan, and until recently state Senate leader Tony Rand, who sponsored the special legislation in 2005, has said that disclosure of the contract’s details could weaken Blue Cross’ ability to negotiate competitive reimbursement rates with health-care providers. Sen. Rand is now leading the legislative effort to revise the State Health Plan before it runs out of money.

North Carolina is one of only a few states where the health insurance plan for state employees is supervised by a legislative body rather than by an executive branch agency or independent board. This arrangement puts legislative leaders in the awkward position of monitoring themselves. When substantial political money flows from insurers to legislators, the awkward position becomes more problematic to a skeptical public, even when legislators are doing their best to protect the public interest. On the other hand, the donations from Blue Cross-related donors are a small percent of the millions raised by Rand and Basnight since the 2000 campaign -- and they can only get the money from private sources, including many with competing financial interests in state government, because no public campaign funding option is available in legislative races.
Executives from Blue Cross contributed an additional $117,000 to state politics during the same period of our analysis. Of this amount, $69,000 was donated by chief executive officer Robert J. Greczyn Jr. and $21,933 was donated by chief operating officer J. Bradley Wilson. The top recipients of donations from the executives are Marc Basnight ($20,600), Attorney General Roy Cooper ($18,033), and Gov. Beverly Perdue ($11,000).

See a chart of the leading recipients of Blue Cross-related contributions at:
http://www.democracy-nc.org/nc/2009/bcpac.pdf

Many stories can gain another dimension by searching campaign finance databases. The State Board of Elections’ search engine is helpful but is a self-described work-in-progress (e.g., a donor’s name ending with Jr. may appear correctly by surname, but be found after first names beginning with J for that surname – Daniel Gregory Jr. appears after Joseph Gregory). I’m happy to offer help to reporters looking up donors with a database Democracy NC has assembled from reports processed by the State Board of Elections. The State
Board’s search engine is at:
http://www.app.sboe.state.nc.us/webapps/cf_trans_search/

A useful account of the Blue Cross and State Health Plan saga is at:
http://www.capitol-monitor.org/its-your-money/red-cross-for-blue-cross-massi.php
... and there are several postings at NC Policy Watch, starting with:
http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/03/page/3/

For more information, please call Democracy North Carolina Executive Director Bob Hall at (919) 489-1931.

Letter of Inquiry to the State Board of Elections on Simkins PAC and Action Greensboro

It is time someone ask the questions that need to be answered and Triadwatch has sent a letter to the North Carolina State Board of Election. Below the fold is the letter sent to the state. This was first reported back in November on Triadwatch , CLICKHERE then fellow blogger Joe Guarino had a post titled "Action Greensboro's Pay to Play", CLICKHERE , and now this past week John Hammer from Rhino Times has a front page article titled "A Questionable Campaign Gift", CLICKHERE , hey John better late than never. This issue has brought up a lot of issues and it is time that the citizens of Guilford County start playing by the rules and laws of this state in regards to campaign laws.

Below is the letter sent to the North Carolina Board of Elections in regards to some questionable campaign gifts as the Rhino Times has titled.The letter was sent a few months ago and is still sitting in Raleigh. We will see what the State Board of Elections has to say about this issue. Stay tune.
______________________________________________________

North Carolina Board of Elections
ATTN: Kim Strach, Director of Campaign Finance
P.O.Box 27255
Raleigh, N.C.27611-7255

This is a formal inquiry into the 3rd quarter campaign contributions for the George C Simkins Jr Memorial Political Action Committee
SBOE ID # STA-C3750N-C-001

According to their 3rd quarter campaign disclosure report for 2008 on page 3 of form there is a $5,000 contribution from

Action Greensboro
317 S. Elm Street
Greensboro N.C. 27401
336-379-0821

This contribution brings up a lot of issues that need to be resolved or brought to the attention of the NCBOE. Below is a few questions that need to be addressed.

Is the maximum contribution $4,000 per cycle?

Can a 501c3 non profit organization like Action Greensboro give to a PAC?

It is listed as contributions from indviduals on line #6 under receipts, how is that possible?

Victor Farah has no job title or employers name under contributor information, is that allowable? NCGS 163-278.11 states that this needs to be provided and the best efforts for the treasurer is out the door on this treasurer Mr. Alston.

Is it also illegal for a professional association, corporation or business entity to contribute to a political committee under NCGS 163-278.19?

Also on 4-17-08 on the first quarter reports there is a outside source of funding which is a transfer of funds from a certificate of deposit, the question, is this a legitimate outside source and do they have to disclose the whole funding from this certificate of deposit or can it be a open funding tool with no indication of how much money is there to be had?

The enclosed attachments will highlight the problems with this report from this Political Action Committee.

These are some questions that need to be answered about this Political Action Committee and would like a response back as soon as possible and a e-mail to see if there is something else that needs to be done to find out about this issue with the George C Simkins Jr. Memorial PAC. Thank you very much and a reply is requested as soon as possible.



Keith T. Brown
3728 Pembroke Terrace
High Point North Carolina 27265
336-812-3630
e-mail: tarheez3@yahoo.com

Guidestar , Searchable database of U.S. nonprofits and charities' activities and finances

If you care about nonprofits and the work they do, then you're affected by what GuideStar does—even if this is your first visit to www.guidestar.org or CLICKHERE. You see, we gather and publicize information about nonprofit organizations. Our reach is far and wide. Our database is broad and deep.

GuideStar's mission is to revolutionize philanthropy and nonprofit practice by providing information that advances transparency, enables users to make better decisions, and encourages charitable giving.

We encourage nonprofits to share information about their organizations openly and completely. Any nonprofit in our database can update its report with information about its mission, programs, leaders, goals, accomplishments, and needs—for free. We combine the information that nonprofits supply with data from several other sources. You'll find GuideStar data:
on this Web site
_______________________________________________________

This web site is a great place to see where all of our local non profits do with their money like Action Greensboro,Bryan Foundation, High Point Community Foundation, Terry Charitable Foundation,Center for Creative Leadership,Community Foundation of Greensboro,Atlantic Coast Conference, and Sit in Movement Inc..

It is free to sign up , the only thing you need is a valid e-mail address.