Comments on: Golden LEAF: A Web of Political Cronies and Corruption

By: Jeffrey Sykes

Jeffrey Sykes — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 04:49:57 +0000

I left out the work “Virginia” in my first sentence. Should read “Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission?”

By: Jeffrey Sykes

Jeffrey Sykes — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 04:48:44 +0000

Have you all looked at the Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission? It does wonders for the rural farm counties that once were dependent on tobacco. That is it’s purpose. I like Skip Stam, but what does he know about the importance of this money to rural areas of the state?

The mistake was made when the legislature voted more than a decade ago to make this money a toy for the governor. The answer is not to make this money a part of the general fund, it is to have the new speaker and new president pro-temp appoint some people to the commission.

I am all for changing how government operates, but this money is critical to rural counties. The urban counties already have a growing monopoly on state revenues, transportation money and representation in the legislature. The last thing that needs to happen is for our MSA money to go to the general fund and get proportionally doled out, resulting in even more money going to Wake and Meck counties.

The GLF has many success stories buried beneath the negative press of the one or two poor investments that where made.

By: Jim Klein

Jim Klein — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 19:35:09 +0000

Do I understand correctly that Gov. Perdue vetoed SB13 in part to preserve the Golden LEAF legacy of patronage, bias and dubious performance?
And yet some wonder why politicians are held in such low regard.

By: Brian M.

Brian M. — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 13:10:38 +0000

Depressing stuff, but nice article Brian.