Perdue's executive order expands NC gift ban

RALEIGH -- Gov. Beverly Perdue has expanded a gift ban for North Carolina state employees who oversee outside contracts to include all state employees in her Cabinet agencies. Perdue issued the executive order late Thursday following news this week that dozens of Division of Motor Vehicles employees may have received meals and other gifts from a telecommunications company. The State Bureau of Investigation is examining the relationship between Verizon Business and the workers. The governor said North Carolina's citizens deserve the highest ethical standards from its employees. Current state law makes it a misdemeanor for an employee involved in preparing and awarding contract bids to accept a vendor's gift. The order doesn't make it a crime but says accepting a gift subjects the employee to disciplinary action. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)