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NC Congressman Accused with Conflicting Interests

Posted on February 17th, 2011

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North Carolina state representative, Mike Stone, was recently alleged to have conducted a closed-door meeting for the Republicans, accepting an audience from lobbyists which gave special attention to video gambling. A small grocery in Sanford, North Carolina owned by Republican Rep. Mike C. Stone, has multiple sweepstakes games installed in 4 computers. Spinning wheels and slot machines are among many games emulated by cleverly designed software; however, video-poker-style gambling might be put on hold temporarily due to the hearing sessions that congress will start soon. Due to repeated assertions from a News & Observer reporter via phone calls, Rep. Stone was forced to remove the video-poker-style gambling machines

Little by little, Stone is stripping down his grocery store to bare and before this week is over he says that he will have to clear all video gambling machines. North Carolina House Speaker of the State Democratic Party Thom Tillis wants an initiative to investigate his fellow congressman from the Republican Party for possible breach of ethical standards on the house of representative code of conduct. This is largely due to the fact that the Republican representative presided a meeting at a caucus meeting where video poker regulating measures was discussed. The Republicans question NC congressman Mike Stone of having his own gambling machines in his store making him unfit to lead the gambling legislation meeting.

Video gaming machines and internet sweepstakes owners continue to operate even though the ban was still being debated in the house of representatives. Gov. Beverly Perdue also was an active participant in the debate. It is the clear intention of Perdue and other lawmakers to legalize gambling while allowing the state lottery oversee it. Gambling operators and supporters of the bill have added their voices in the debate saying that gambling expansion will add to the state’s dwindling budget, while also revitalizing the local economy. Some courts have remained silent and have not issued any order to halt any gambling activity while the issue is still pending a decision. Wake County court rulings, however, prohibit any gambling to take place in the immediate area. On the brighter side, however, Guilford County Superior Court ruled in favor of gambling operators.

Congressman Stone favors small time entrepreneurs, much like himself, to operate video gambling facilities, but he does not see himself above the law and will agree to any ruling by the courts.

“I’m a free market guy. I’m not for letting the government go in and do the same thing they did with the lottery,” he said. “We need to educate ourselves.”, he said. However, there is a lot of negativity coming from N.C. Coalition for Lobbying & Government Reform towards the congressman. According to Jane Pinsky spokesperson for the NCCLGR, Stone might be clouded in his judgments and decisions over the legislation of online gambling and that he could use his political position to influence major decision. “He shouldn’t be participating in this if he has that financial interest,” Pinsky said. “Rule Number 1 in ethics is that you avoid even the perception of using that public office for personal gain. I would think he should step away from it, just recuse.”

Pinsky and her supporters expressed concerns about how the House Republicans could manipulate congress rulings over the matter, especially with what had happened last Thursday when they held a closed-door meeting. Also a News & Observer journalist was asked to leave the room before the meeting presided. The journalist accused stone of denying her request to be allowed to stay. Stone along with the rest of the Republicans who were part of the closed-door meeting, denied the allegations. Congressman Stone said that he did not play any major role in conducting the closed-door meeting. He further said that the whole idea was from House Speaker Tills himself. He denied any connection with the lobbyists present in the meeting, saying ” I couldn’t comment as the chairman of that meeting…. All I did was walk in that room and have that meeting. I didn’t run anything except the agenda.” Stone continued defending the closed-door meeting saying that both groups, those for and against expanded gambling, were allowed to air their sides.