Under the Dome: Published: Apr 14, 2008 12:30 AM Modified: Apr 14, 2008 06:12 AM
Foxx goes to bat for the bloggers

Ryan Teague Beckwith and Bill Krueger, Staff Writers

U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx says bloggers need protection.
The Banner Elk Republican is one of 34 co-sponsors of the Blogger Protection Act, a bill that would protect bloggers from Federal Election Commission regulations.

Two years ago, the FEC ruled that bloggers' rights to free speech should not be overridden by campaign finance laws and that blogs should be treated as other publications are.

"We must not leave the First Amendment rights of bloggers in the hands of the Federal Election Commission," Foxx said in a statement. "Bloggers' rights are too important to leave them to the whims of a panel of federal regulators."

The bill, whose chief sponsor is Texas Rep. Jeb Hensarling, would not affect online contributions, but it would ensure that bloggers can continue to link to campaign Web sites without being considered an extension of the campaign.

Foxx is the only North Carolina representative among the co-sponsors.

Sen. Dalton is Mr. Effective

How effective were the state legislators now running for statewide offices?

Sen. Walter Dalton was the most effective of the candidates for major office, according to a survey by the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research. He ranked sixth in the state Senate for 2007.

Still, Dalton, who is running for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, dropped slightly from his fifth-place spot in 2005. He has ranked in the top 10 since 2001.

State Sen. Kay Hagan, a candidate in the Democratic primary for Republican Elizabeth Dole's U.S. Senate seat, ranked just behind Dalton at No. 7. She maintained her 2005 rank and has been in the top 10 since 2003.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Fred Smith, a state senator from Johnston County, was No. 38 -- his lowest effectiveness rank since taking office in 2002.

Sen. Janet Cowell maintained her 2005 rank of 25. She is running for the Democratic nomination for state treasurer.

Cowell's potential opponent in the treasurer's race, Republican Rep. Bill Daughtridge, was ranked the 50th most effective representative in the state House.

80 percent of success is ...

... showing up. Which candidates managed to show up for legislative sessions this term?

Hagan had the best attendance of the five candidates for major state offices, according to the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research. Hagan had a 96.5 percent attendance rate and only four absences this term.

Dalton came in a close second with a 93 percent attendance rate. Smith trailed with 88.5 percent.

Daughtridge got a higher attendance rate in the House than Cowell did in the Senate.

Daughtridge had a 91.3 percent attendance rate. Cowell, with 14 absences, managed only 85.8 percent.

A job for Elizabeth Edwards

Elizabeth Edwards will join the Center for American Progress as a senior fellow.

The wife of former U.S. Sen. John Edwards will work on health-care issues and write for a new blog called the "Wonk Room," the nonprofit organization announced last week.

"As many can attest, I have an opinion on everything," Elizabeth Edwards said in a statement. "But I am particularly concerned about the state of health care in America, and I am grateful to CAP for giving me the chance to continue to advocate for universal and quality health care coverage for all."

Edwards also said she will continue her push for universal health care coverage.

The policy research and advocacy organization was created in 2003 as an alternative to conservative think tanks.

Founded by John Podesta, the former chief of staff to President Clinton, it has strong ties to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

(Correspondent Emily Stephenson contributed to this report.)

OVERHEARD

'Not only is he better looking and smarter than me, but he has a better chance of unseating the Republican incumbent.'

- State House candidate Stan Morse, endorsing his opponent in the May 6 Democratic primary, Sam Hart Brewer. Morse said he signed up to run only because he thought no one would run.


By staff writers Ryan Teague Beckwith and Bill Krueger and correspondent Emily Stephenson. ryan.teague.beckwith@newsobserver.com or (919) 836-4944