GOP presidential hopefuls begin coming to North Carolina

North Carolina may be about to get a taste of what to expect.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a likely Republican presidential candidate, makes an appearance in Raleigh on June 5. A day later Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, an already declared candidate, speaks to the state GOP convention.

Walker’s appearance is sponsored by the conservative Civitas Institute. He’ll speak at what the group bills as “an intimate event” at a private home. Cruz is the convention’s keynote speaker.

Their appearances come less than a year before North Carolina holds one of the nation’s first primaries. Traditionally held in May, a change by the legislature last session moved it up, possibly to February.

A bill passed by the House and still in the Senate would set it for March 8. Jim Morrill

Pittenger continues U.S.-European dialogue

U.S. Rep. Robert Pittenger, a Charlotte Republican, returned this week from Europe where he helped lead an international security forum to discuss intelligence procedures and protections.

The three-day trip included two days in Vienna meeting with 90 members of parliaments from 24 European nations and one day in Berlin talking to German leaders.

Pittenger delivered the opening and closing remarks and spoke of the need for trust among allies as they face common adversaries and the critical role of intelligence for their mutual security, his staff said. He was joined by GOP Rep. Devin Nunes of California, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, along with other Congressional leaders.

The European forum was a follow-up to last year’s meetings organized by Pittenger in Washington, where European leaders shared concerns about U.S. surveillance programs and common goals to fight terrorism.

U.S.-German relations have been tested since it was revealed by Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor, that Americans were spying on German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other allies.

Pittenger, who chairs the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare, said the meetings in the U.S. and Europe helped open more dialogue among leaders. He said members of European parliaments now have a greater understanding of the United States' safeguards for privacy and civil liberties.

“What has been bridged is a much better understanding of our position and our commitments to privacy apart from what they read in the paper,” Pittenger said. Franco Ordoñez

Gun bill opponents open fire

Two national gun-control groups launched a TV ad campaign in North Carolina last week, pushing for the defeat of a handgun bill in the state legislature.

Everytown for Gun Safety Action, backed by former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America have purchased air time at TV stations in the state through Friday, a spokesman said.

The spokesman declined to disclose how much will be spent on the ads.

The organizations contend that the bill would allow people convicted of felonies, domestic abuse and others from evading background checks by buying guns from unlicensed sellers online or at gun shows.

House Bill 562, whose main sponsors include Republican Rep. Jacqueline Schaffer of Charlotte, would expand the places where people with permits to carry concealed handguns could bring their weapons, include the state fairgrounds in Raleigh.

It also would prohibit health-care providers from disclosing to government agencies if a patient says they lawfully have a weapon, unless the patient is mentally ill. And it would loosen restrictions on prosecutors, hunters, and on possessing guns on school grounds.

Lars Dalseide, news media liason for the National Rifle Association, said the ad campaign was more of a publicity stunt than a substantial effort.

“All you’re seeing is Michael Bloomberg and his standard playbook of misdirection and half-truths butting in to North Carolina politics,” Dalseide said.

“What House Bill 562 really does is improve range protection laws, updates the concealed carry permit process, and takes advantage of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) utilized by the majority of other states.” Craig Jarvis, (Raleigh) News & Observer

Clodfelter tries

Give Charlotte Mayor Dan Clodfelter credit for trying.

Clodfelter wrote state legislative leaders last week thanking them for support of Charlotte’s mostly non-controversial legislative agenda. But he also asked them to give towns and cities $62 million to make up for the lost business privilege license tax.

Charlotte lost $18 million in revenues from the tax. No replacement money is in the proposed state budget released last week by the House. Jim Morrill

McHenry featured in WSJ

The Wall Street Journal featured U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry last week, spotlighting his role as chief deputy whip for House Republicans.

“The position has been a springboard into the highest ranks of House GOP leadership,” the article stated, adding that his predecessors have included former Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia and former Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois. When he was first elected in 2004, McHenry was known as a bomb-thrower who didn't mind public battles. The Journal tracked what it called his "evolution into a savvy backroom operator."

“ On a leadership team not known for its policy expertise," it said, "McHenry’s approach combines a grasp of complicated legislation and detailed knowledge of the political dynamics in other lawmakers’ districts.” Jim Morrill

This story was originally published May 16, 2015 at 1:54 PM with the headline "GOP presidential hopefuls begin coming to North Carolina."