From today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Sailor got loan from lobbyist before key vote
$80,000 debt allegedly was not repaid. Payday industry advocate said the deal was unrelated to failed legislation.By Cameron McWhirter, Alan Judd, Ben Smith
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/25/08Twenty-five days before voting for a controversial payday lending bill last year, then-state Rep. Ron Sailor Jr. accepted tens of thousands of dollars from a lobbyist pushing the bill.
Sailor, who resigned last week after admitting to money laundering, received at least $80,000 in February 2007 from a company controlled by retired Denver Broncos football player Willie A. Green.
Green, a registered lobbyist for payday lending interests, said through his attorney Monday that the transaction was unrelated to the lending bill."
For those of you who don't remember Willie Green, he is also a former member of the Carolina Panthers. During the 2003 session of the General Assembly, Green was a lobbyist for the payday lending industry at the Legislative Building in Raleigh. During many meetings and hearings, Green was often pushed forward by the other payday industry lobbyists as the public vioice of the industry.
Thankfully, of course, enough N.C. lawmakers had the good sense to tell the payday predators to get lost that the business has dried up or gone underground here. In case anyone ever has any doubts that they did the right thing in giving the boot to these bottom feeders, today's news should certainly help reconfirm it.
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