North Carolina Senate Scrutinized for Pay-to-Play Schemes

0:00From the Daily News Now Network, this is Cory with Durham News Today. A new investigation is spotlighting possible pay-to-play schemes in North Carolina State Senate where big donations seem linked to contracts, grants, and budget favors. State Senator Dave Craven, a 36-year-old Republican from a safe rural district, raked in more than $1,300,000. In campaign cash last cycle, second only to the Senate leader. Much of that money came from lobbyists and interest groups. Then got funneled through the Senate Majority Fund to help other Republicans. Earlier this week, reporting revealed how groups like trial lawyers, who usually back Democrats, gave Craven $45,000 despite his conservative stance. He sponsored a bill boosting auto insurance minimums unchanged since 1999, which could lead to bigger payouts and accident cases. Craven's haul mostly flowed from clients of his lobbyist friend, and two-thirds went to the Senate fund, dodging individual donation caps of $6,800.

1:03This setup has real impact, turning lawmakers like Craven into key players despite their junior status. As the Senate's youngest member, he now co-chairs the powerful finance committee, steering money and policy. Critics say it's a blatant reward system, worse now under Republican control for 15 years, with donations followed by state deals for donors. Meanwhile, secrecy is making it harder to track. Lawmakers exempt themselves from open records laws, and budgets get cooked up behind closed doors, hiding who slips in favors for Bay contributors. Watchdogs points to patterns where cash proceeds, contracts, and grants. Calls for action are growing. Wake County District Attorney Lauren Freeman tapped the state bureau of investigation for probes into ethics and lobbying violations from lawmaker. Trips. Incoming DA Wiley-Nickel vows to prioritize public corruption cases, starting with these findings. The Daily News Now is presented by our sponsor, linked in the description. What is cooler than cool?

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