RALEIGH—It is hard to believe anyone is still defending the North Carolina Department of Transportation.  It came as absolutely no surprise that an audit of the NCDOT uncovered rampant waste and inefficiency.  A seat on the NC Board of Transportation has long been the reward for Democrat fundraisers and cronies, as was again exposed by the resignation of Thomas Betts, Jr., after it was reported in the News & Observer that he had tried to raise $20,000 for Lt. Governor Beverly Perdue’s gubernatorial campaign.  In the past week alone, the News & Observer editorial board has twice penned scathing indictments against the poor planning and managerial skill exemplified by the NCDOT.  (“Road to Reform” News & Observer, February 5, 2008 http://www.newsobserver.com/print/tuesday/opinion/story/923727.html; “Cracked up” News & Observer, February 4, 2008 http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/editorials/story/921220.html)   

Chairman Linda Daves, North Carolina Republican Party, made the following statement: 

“Which roads does Jerry Meek drive everyday?  The same ones Lyndo Tippett drives from Fayetteville to Raleigh.  It is typical of the Democrat leadership in the General Assembly to take care of their own by awarding road construction projects to the districts of the most powerful Democrat legislators and also to reward their best fundraisers with seats on the Board of Transportation.  Democrats do not like it when light shines on the dark places they have created in state government.  They especially do not like State Auditor Les Merritt because he so often uncovers waste and inefficiency that government bureaucrats would like to hide.  Jerry Meek will do and say anything to protect the status quo.  Republicans have a vision for smart, efficient spending for transportation and throughout state government.  The entrenched Democrat powerbrokers in Raleigh have shown time and again how easily they can waste our money.  The NCDOT and the Democrat leaders owe more to the taxpayers of North Carolina than we are getting.  Election Day is coming and we can make a change.”

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