You can add U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., to those opposing further federal funding for national political conventions.

The cities of Charlotte and Tampa each received more than $50 million in federal funds for security at the recent Democratic and Republican conventions.

The two political parties also got more than $17 million each in money that was directed by taxpayers to the Federal Election Commission to help fund the once-ever-four-year conventions.

Burr says the time has come to stop the funding. “In my book, I think this is the last set of conventions that I’m going to commit to have federal dollars to finance,” Burr said last week. “I think the parties need to reevaluate whether in fact they need to have conventions, No. 1. And, No. 2, I don’t believe a party function of that magnitude is an appropriate thing to fund given the competition and prioritization of money.”

With security, the Democratic and Republican conventions each cost nearly $120 million – for what U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn calls “summertime parties.”

In June, Coburn offered an amendment to a farm bill that would bar the use of tax funds for future conventions.

The convention measure passed 95-4, though the overall bill is stalled in the House. Franco Ordoñez

Rubio to tout Pittenger

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio is the headliner at a fundraiser for congressional candidate Robert Pittenger.

The Sept. 26 fundraiser at the Charlotte City Club includes a private photo reception for those who gives $1,000 or more. Individual tickets cost $250. The hosts include Frank Dowd IV, Johnny Harris, Rick Hendrick and Felix Sabates.

Rubio is the Republican senator from Florida and a vice presidential short-lister. Pittenger is running in the 9th Congressional District against Democrat Jennifer Roberts.

Michelle Obama in N.C.

First lady Michelle Obama will be in North Carolina on Wednesday for campaign stops in Greenville and Durham.

The first lady is a familiar presence in the state. She was in Charlotte for the Democratic convention, delivering a televised speech and speaking to smaller convention gatherings. News & Observer

Walker visits for GOP

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker will campaign for GOP gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory in Raleigh and Greensboro later this month.

“I look forward to proudly welcoming Scott Walker to North Carolina, a reform-minded governor that is showing strong leadership in Wisconsin,” McCrory said.

Walker will appear Sept. 25. Walker has become a favorite of many conservatives because of efforts to take away the collective bargaining rights of public employees and because he beat back a recall effort. (North Carolina state employees have no collective bargaining rights.)

Democratic candidate Walter Dalton on Thursday warned that the election of McCrory would mean four years of battles with state employees. News & Observer

Dalton to stump in Asheville

Dalton will visit the Bent Creek Institute in Asheville on Monday to discuss his jobs plan. The Bent Creek Institute specializes in research and development for specialty crop growers and botanical medicine developers and processors. Dalton’s jobs plan focuses in part on growth industries like biotechnology and agribusiness, the state’s top industry. His talk is at 1 p.m.

Washington Bureau reporter Franco Ordoñez and the (Raleigh) News & Observer contributed.