The News and Observer reports on yet another non-story about the jobs and big salary increases for a couple of McCrory staffers.
I have three simple questions for Michael Biesecker, the News and Observer reporter who wrote the story:
- If these positions are exempt from a requirement that they be posted — as Biesecker notes in the fifth paragraph of his article — why is this a story? Biesecker raises questions as to qualifications. However the governor — as well as any chief executive for that matter — knows the success of the McCrory administration depends on qualified applicants to fill important jobs.
- Why is it newsworthy that a Gov. McCrory — or any governor for that matter — wants his own people in high level positions?
- If the concern is McCrory staffers getting jobs or hefty pay raises, why the sudden interest by the N&O? A casual Google search fails to turn up a single N&O story on new jobs or salary increases prior to McCrory taking office in January 2013. Surprised? I doubt most people are.
The N&O failed to make this a story. It did succeed in giving readers yet another reason to doubt the paper’s objectivity.
the N&O hammered away for months in 2008/2009 on the news and editorial side on the job that Mary Easley got at NCSU along with her hefty pay raise, so its not true that the N&O did not cover hires or hefty pay raises prior to 1/1/2013
Yes it’s true the N&O investigated Mary Easley’s promotions and salary increases in 2008-09. I don’t think however the investigation of a Governor’s wife and campaign staffers is not quite an apples to apples comparison. Parenthetically, I also think the N&O came to those investigations a little late, after much of the work was already done by Don Carrington of Carolina Journal.
That said, my general point about the N&O coming late to the topic of investigating staff salaries was made after a casual Google search. If the N&O has one major story from five years ago and virtually nothing post 2009, I think my general point remains valid.
Also, for the record, I incorrectly implied that Michael Biesecker was a reporter for the News and Observer (N&O). Biesecker works for the Associated Press. I apologize for the error.
Just a few results from my own “casual Google search” of N&O articles about government related salaries:
N.C. House Speaker Tillis gives his staff fat raises
Published: June 11, 2011
State hiring freeze gets slushy
Published: March 31, 2011
N&O adds UNC Hospitals pay to our salary databases
Submitted by dkane on 05/21/2010
Speaker’s staffers receive a month of pay after resignations
Published: May 17, 2012
State to review ABC board pay
Published: November 24, 2009
Overtime pay for State Fair employee called ‘excessive’
Published: July 22, 2011
Large payouts strain state pension system
Published: June 13, 2010
Janet Cowell gave big raises to pension fund officials
Submitted by John_Frank on 2012-08-21
Airport chief’s pay is a surprise
Published: December 31, 2010
State audit critical of retired Pitt-Greenville airport chief’s pay
Submitted by dkane on 08/11/2011
Amid retirements, state lawmakers benefit from pension perks
Published: February 26, 2012
Salaries for local government association leaders top $200,000
Published: July 7, 2011
Attorney general: Open up the personnel files
Submitted by dkane on 11/09/2010
Law helps to hide cronyism
Published: March 15, 2010
State grants uneven pay raises for workers
Published: September 14, 2010
N&O series ‘Keeping Secrets’ wins award
Published: September 3, 2010
“Kane’s three-part series, published in March, showed that North Carolina’s personnel law, which has shielded much information about state employees’ behavior from the public, was one of the most restrictive in the nation.
The N&O, through the N.C. Open Government Coalition, shared the stories with other media outlets across the state.
The series led to a new state law that will make it easier to get more information about the pay and performance of state employees.”
well guess greggy has got access to google. Too bad he does not do as many searches when on the NC policy crotch web site.