A State and Local Government Committee of the state Senate held a meeting on legislation to allow county and municipal governments to publish public notices only on their websites became heated when a local newspaper publisher sought a recorded vote on the bill, the Raleigh News and Observer reported. Hal Tanner, publisher of the Goldsboro News-Argus, had argued that a voice vote showed the bill failing by one vote, while committee co-chairman Sen. Tommy Tucker (R-Waxhaw) said the bill had passed and the rules did not allow for a recorded vote. During the dispute with Tanner, Tucker proceeded to tell the publisher that it was not his place to comment.
"I am the senator, you are the citizen. You need to be quiet," Tucker said.
The Charlotte Observer reported that three other people in the room had confirmed Tucker's statement; but Tucker told the News and Observer that was not his remark and that Tanner had slighted the committee's integrity, and he had taken it "personally." Tucker said that he told Tanner, "I'm the senator here, let me finish."
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The public notice legislation has been a growing issue for local governments nationwide, with local officials arguing that they can save money by posting the notices on their websites, while newspapers, which would lose a dedicated revenue stream, have argued it would reduce public information. Legislation to make the move has failed in multiple states, with other bills pending this year in several states, including Tennessee, Florida and Connecticut.
Tommy Tucker, North Carolina State Senator, Confronts Publisher At Public Hearing
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