News-Record.com

As I noted earlier, North Carolina could soon designate an official potato festival.

The measure passed the House Monday 114-0 and will be sent to the Senate. You can click here to listen to the debate. Some highlights:

Rep. Jerry Dockham: “This doesn’t have anything to do with barbecue does it?"

Rep. Bill Owens: "No sir."

Dockham:"Just wanted to clear that up."

Last session, Dockham put forward a bill to designate the Lexington Barbecue Festival as the official state ‘cue festival. It was changed to become the official state “food” festival. The change was made to accommodate – apparently still raw – regional rivalries that exist between adherents of Lexington and eastern ‘cue styles, which came up during this debate over taters.

Rep. David Lewis: "Mr. Speaker?"

Speaker Hackney: "For what purpose does the gentleman from Harnett, Rep. Lewis, arise?"

Lewis:"Point of order."

Hackney:"The gentleman may state his point of order."

Lewis:"Rep. Dockham’s bill also had nothing to do with barbecue."

Earlier in the debate, Owens allowed as how most of the potatoes celebrated at the festival were white potatoes, which prompted this friendly exchange:

Rep. Mickey Michaux: “Did I hear you say all white potatoes?” (This prompted laughs. Michaux is a prominent member of the N.C. Legislative Black Caucus.)

Owens: “Actually, we have some red ones too, which Rep. Sutton likes." (Rep. Ronnie Sutton is the one Native American member of the House.)

Michaux:"I suggest you vote against the bill."