Raw Senate Political Power – Bob Greczyn and Mike James up for UNC Board of Governors Today

UPDATED – SEE BOTTOM OF POST FOR LATEST

Ah, the smell of UNC in the morning. It smells like….victory. Fresh off a stunning win yesterday on one of the most hotly-contested bills so far this session – the state health plan “reform” bill that sticks it to state employees and taxpayers while bowing to the wishes of the pharmacy industry and NC Blue Cross – is yet another indication of how raw political power works in the NC Senate.

Bob Greczyn, CEO of NC Blue Cross, and Mike James, head lobbyist for the Association of Community Pharmacists both appear today – surprise, surprise – on the list of the slate for the UNC Board of Governors. One of the most coveted political appointments in the state, the UNC Board is traditionally reserved for those with plenty of political power and plenty of campaign cash to throw around. You also get to have a huge effect on the biggest institution in the state – our University system.

In addition, Paul Fulton and Burley Mitchell are both up for membership as well – they respectively head the enormously powerful UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State political action committees that give hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions.

The vote today will show how power really works in the North Carolina Senate.

4.30 PM – Looks like the NC Senate got cold feet. Apparently both Bob Greczyn and Mike James withdrew their names from consideration for the board appointments this afternoon. Things must be getting a little hot in the kitchen down there on Jones Street!