From the Raleigh News & Observer (2/16/11): Republicans in the state House came under continued criticism Tuesday over their use of members-only committees to hear from special interest groups in secret.
The issue surfaced late last week when House members met behind closed doors with lobbyists advocating for video gambling, and then removed a News & Observer reporter from the room.
The Republicans have had other such committee meetings. One session of a GOP health committee in January took in presentations from doctors, pharmacists, adult-care home owners and owners of assisted living facilities , officials acknowledged in interviews Tuesday. The focus, according to House majority leader Paul Stam of Apex, was on “how to optimize the health care system.”
Stam said that committee meeting was unrelated to the chamber’s first major piece of legislation, a bill that would challenge the federal health care overhaul.
Rep. Jeff Barnhart, a Cabarrus Republican, said that the meeting lasted all day and that a wide range of people discussed “hot policy issues.” He said he could not recall who was there and did not think a written agenda exists.