"Stripping an elected official of his power would be a major policy change, the kind of thing you might expect Senate budget writers to notice.  They didn’t."

More:

Senate leader Marc Basnight announced the provision had come from his office.  But he said it was a mistake: “I didn’t even know it was in there.”

Basnight represents thousands of coastal homeowners who are angry about rising insurance rates, and Commissioner Goodwin is the target of their wrath...

...Senate Republican leader Phil Berger [...] says mystery provisions show up all the time, and they’re usually political.

Background and more links.

Comments

[David Hoggard]

But, but, that story came from Public Radio. Aren't they supposed to be cheerleaders for all things that emanate from the Democratic Party?

The horrors! Public Radio exploring and reporting on shenanigans of Democrats! What's this world coming to. Kinda puts to question that whole "liberal-media-instrument-of-the-left" thing.

[Roger Greene]

Yes Hoggard we all welcome the breath of fresh air. Also, does anyone believe de facto governor Basnight really didn't know where it came from? His record for honesty is known. This is the same guy who helped push through a Dare county bridge project that surprisingly had as one of its subcontractors named Basnight Construction. When called about it he said he hadn't been involved with the company for 10 years. Of course, he had just the prior fiscal year signed the annual P and L statement. So, a little more skepticism about his version of the truth would have me more convinced of the media's having dropped the pom poms.