Great article Leilani.
I started researching the NC Senate Bill 327.
I see its primary sponsor is Tom Apodaca. He ranks fourth on donations list from NORTH CAROLINA AUTO DEALERS ASSOCIATION.
NORTH CAROLINA AUTO DEALERS ASSOCIATION | Follow The Money
I see someone has already updated his wikipedia.
"In May 2013, after receiving the maximum $8000 contribution from North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association, Apodaca sponsored legislation that would make it illegal for any car maker to bypass dealerships and sell directly to consumers in North Carolina. Apodaca's proposal, supported by the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association, was widely criticized as anti-competitive and aimed at insulating automobile dealers from Tesla Motors' business model."
Some hypocritical comments from Apodaca's website.
Senator Apodaca - 48th District State Senator...
“North Carolina is a growing, changing state and has seen shifts in its key industries over the years; what was once primarily an agricultural state has changed to a hub of technology. As policy makers, North Carolina’s legislators have an important duty to ensure the state’s future prosperity. In today’s competitive business market and with many jobs being transferred overseas, we must do everything we can to make North Carolina the best state in which to do business. I am honored that NCFREE has recognized and shared my goal of promoting all North Carolina businesses.”
"The General Assembly did the right thing by requiring full disclosure and regular reporting of lobbying expenditures. We also passed a six month “cooling off” period before a legislator can become a lobbyist. This was an important step to making sure special interests don’t crowd out ordinary citizens in the decision-making process."
PRESS RELEASE
Senate Rules Chairman
Senator Tom Apodaca
48th Senatorial District
(828) 696-0574 District Office
214 North King Street Hendersonville, NC 28792
Raleigh, N.C. – Senate Rules Chairman Tom Apodaca (R-Henderson) received the “Sunshine Award” last month for filing transparent reports about campaign contributions.
The biennial award from “watchdog” group Democracy North Carolina is given to lawmakers who turn in “superior” reports that reveal details about who gave them campaign money and how it was spent.
Apodaca, a veteran senator and the architect of several critical bills in the 2011 legislative session, was one of only a few senators to win the award.
“When we took control of the General Assembly, we promised to be transparent and do things differently – and we’ve delivered,” Apodaca said. “I’m honored to receive this award, and I’ll continue working toward a more transparent government.”
I do have to thank Mr Apodaca. Due to this transperency, we can see that 3 of the 6 sponsors of this Auto Dealer protection bill received funds from the NC Auto Dealers Association.
