Adams defends museum, slams News & Record
The appropriations committee continues to review amendments to the budget. As of about 2 p.m. they had looked over 22 of the 76 request for changes filed.
The 22d of those amendments to run would have gutted funding for the International Civil Rights Center, taking more than half of the $500,000 currently in the budget and shifting it to a Native American museum in Robeson County.
This of course kicked the Guilford County delegation into gear.
"I hate to see the Native Americans being pitted against the African Americans, I think that's unfortunate," said Rep. Alma Adams, a Greensboro Democrat.
Late in the debate, the committee heard from Rep.
Cary Allred, who cited reports in the News & Record that work on the museum hadn't been tracked like it should have. (More here and here. Oh, and there are links to the museums latest less-than-flattering audit here.)
"Let me first of all say you can't believe everything you read Greensboro News & Record as you can't in many papers," Adams said.
Ouch. I have a really snarky comment about legislatures being bastions of veracity, but I'll withhold it for the moment.
Well the amendment failed after much discussion.
And since you can't believe what you read in the paper, click here to listen to the end of the debate, which includes the sound of the vote and comments from Rep. Maggie Jeffus.
So status as of 2:20 p.m.: Civil Rights Museum still has $500,000 and the Appropriations Committee is rolling on.
Comments (2)
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I listened to your audio clip, and I think Rep. Adams' comments were at least as factual and persuasive as the average debate in the General Assembly. I'm also a little uncomfortable with the idea that a newspaper reporter thinks it's appropriate for him to trade "snark" with an elected member of the General Assembly. If you have something to say, say it. Don't think you have to be (or that it's appropriate for you to be) a character in the drama.
Posted on May 10, 2007 10:37 PM
Patrick:
I think it's perfectly appropriate to use humor in this venue, especially when a legislator chooses to take an unfounded swipe at my organization.
Personally, Rep. Adams has always been very courteous, nice and cooperative with me. But in this case, I think she was wrong. And frankly, I told her that to her face.
How you think I'm a character in the drama is escapes me, but you’re entitled to think what you think.
Posted on May 10, 2007 10:46 PM