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January 2, 2010

R.C. Soles makes another argument for term limits

Posted by Rick Henderson at 11:21 AM

In this interview (highlighted by Squall Lines), the retiring senator makes this astonishing statement:

Soles said he probably spent about $10,000 in one of his early senate campaigns. In his 2008 re-election effort, Soles spent $839,500.

“I hate to say it, but I spent about $600,000 of my own money,” Soles said. “It’s hard to justify that for a $13,000 a year job. I’ve put a lot of miles on cars, and spent a lot of money on hotels while the legislature has been in session.”

He spent $600,000 of his own money to hold onto a job that paid $13,000. Imagine the power and perks attached to a seat in the General Assembly justifying that level of "investment."

Reminds me of something I heard longtime Beltway insider Elizabeth Drew say on PBS's Washington Week in Review more than a decade ago, when the term limits movement was first gaining traction.

Drew said she didn't support term limits, but when it came to some low-level offices, its backers had a point. She said, basically, anyone who wanted to make a career sitting in a state legislature probably did not have the public interest foremost in their thoughts.

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Dallas Woodhouse makes a good watch list

Posted by Jon Sanders at 01:25 AM

The News & Observer lists Dallas Woodhouse, North Carolina chapter president of Americans For Prosperity, in its "Ten to Watch" in 2010. Perhaps a year too late — then again, most North Carolinians probably saw Woodhouse and his bustling AFP'ers as they went all over the state giving North Carolinians of all backgrounds a voice where it was needed, from county commissions to the governor's office to the U.S. Congress. (And what a voice — suffice it to say, it's rather hard to ignore.)

Congratulations to Dallas and to the hard-working staff at AFP. Keep up the good work — we need it now more than ever.

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