WSJ: Time to End Basnight Era

The Winston-Salem Journal writes that Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight has been in power too long and has accumulated more control over state government than any one person should have while calling for new leadership in the state senate.

Basnight’s era
December 27, 2009

During the days when legislators could legally enjoy Raleigh’s nightlife on lobbyists’ credit cards, Sen. Marc Basnight would rarely participate. More likely, Basnight and his entourage would eat at an out-of-the-way restaurant, usually rotating the tab among themselves.

Basnight told the Journal several years ago that he preferred to eat dinner less stressfully with his friends, most of them senators or folks from home. These were his buddies.

The Dare County Democrat and Senate president pro tem is losing those dinner buddies quickly these days. Sens. David Weinstein and Tony Rand are taking state jobs, thus leaving the Senate. Sen. David Hoyle won’t run for re-election. Sen. R.C. Soles is in legal trouble at home and may not run. Several of his other political allies also won’t be returning.

This would be a good time for Basnight to say goodbye, too. …

It is also time for another senator, with other ideas and priorities, to wield the pro tem’s powers. There’s plenty of talent in the chamber.

In this state’s legislative power structure, the Senate president pro tem has enjoyed enormous influence since 1989 when the Senate shifted to the office duties previously assigned to the lieutenant governor.

Many political observers felt that Basnight, elected in one district with almost no opposition for the past two decades, had more political sway than former Gov. Mike Easley, who was four times elected statewide. (Two of Easley’s four statewide wins came as attorney general.) Certainly, Gov. Bev Perdue, an old Basnight ally and friend, must pay close attention to his wishes before making any legislative moves. Only former Gov. Jim Hunt, from 1993 to 2001, surpassed Basnight’s influence.

That’s not right. Although the legislature must be a co-equal branch of government, one legislator should not accrue as much power as Basnight has during his prolonged tenure.

When Basnight is finally replaced, the Senate should develop a new tradition. Its presidents pro tem should serve for no more than two consecutive terms. …

During the Basnight years, too much substantive legislation simply got stuffed into the budget at the last moment. There, it did not get either full and fair debate or the up-or-down vote it deserved.

In his nine terms at the Senate helm, he has lost a number of political allies who have either run for other offices, retired or died. But never in his prolonged ascendancy has he suffered so many losses all at once. And never has he looked so vulnerable to his political challengers, both inside the Democratic caucus and out. …

Click here for the full editorial from the Winston-Salme Journal…

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