Buying votes with our cash?

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A bill has been introduced in the North Carolina House that creates new positions in the Department of Labor and institutes pay raises for employees of that agency.

Sooo — what makes this so interesting?

The bill’s three sponsors include House Majority Whip Jon Hardister (R-Guilford) and Rep. Ben Moss (R-Richmond).  Hardister and Moss are BOTH candidates for commissioner of Labor in 2024.

Incumbent Josh Dobson is not running for reelection.

This may be a totally innocent act of public service.  But it certainly looks bad to see legislators using their current job to so obviously pave the way for a move to a new, higher-paying, higher-powered job. 

According to the General Assembly website, the bill is still languishing in the House Appropriations Committee.  It needs to stay there.