The rich are not like the rest of us. Just ask the Keith family. They’ve got big houses and fancy cars. When their kid’s not starting on the high school football team, they find a school where he can. And when they have a problem with a government contract, they call the governor—who in turn calls a meeting.

But it’s not just Pat McCrory who has the Keiths’ ear. Graeme Keith can pick up the phone and get the state budget bill changed. Not even most legislators can do that. That’s what big money and big government contracts will do for you.

The story of the Keiths is the story of money in politics and shows how little has changed despite the claims of the GOP that they would clean up Raleigh and end cronyism. Graeme Keith has been in the game for years. He was a big donor to Democrats when they were in power and he shifted allegiances when Republicans took over. The rise of Charlotte’s star in the political realm certainly increased his access and padded his wallet.

Last year, the Keith Corporation was about to lose a prison maintenance contract because the leadership of the Department of Public Safety saw little savings and increased security risks. Graeme Keith was outraged. He called Pat McCrory who called a meeting of prison officials and Graeme Keith. Keith complained that he had given a lot of money to political candidates and expected something in return.

When Keith made that statement, the question should have been settled. Even if the DPS leaders were wrong and private maintenance actually saved money, the Keith Corporation should be ineligible for the contracts. Graeme Keith stated that he believed there was a quid pro quo to his campaign donations. He gave money to McCrory and others and expected something—a contract extension—in return, which he got.

Keith’s influence didn’t just extend to the executive branch. When a provision in the budget would have required legislative oversight of private prison contracts, Graeme called Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger. He wanted the provision removed and told Berger to ask Budget Director Lee Roberts about it. Roberts told Berger that the executive branch would prefer not to have the provision and it disappeared.

Berger and Roberts argue that the private contract actually saved money and that the budget provision was cumbersome. They are right that the legislature should get out of the business of micromanaging agencies, and counties and towns for that matter. But the process stinks and makes everybody around it smell, too.

Cronyism is a alive and well under the GOP. For all their complaining about the Democrats’ corruption, they’ve managed to sell access and create their own clubby atmosphere. The Graeme Keiths of the world can pick up the phone and have their concerns addressed by the Governor or leader of the Senate. It’s a privilege reserved for people who make a profit, not people, like teachers, who make a difference.

Thomas Mills

Thomas Mills is the founder and publisher of PoliticsNC.com. Before beginning PoliticsNC, Thomas spent twenty years as a political and public affairs consultant. Learn more >