Black says he gave former colleague money

RALEIGH (AP) — Former House Speaker Jim Black say he gave $10,000 in cash to a former lawmaker who enabled Black to remain as co-speaker.

Black made the admission this morning in a Raleigh courtroom, where he is to be sentenced on state charges of bribery and obstruction of justice.

Prosecutors say Black gave former Republican Representative Michael Decker thousands of dollars to switch political parties in 2003. That includes the money Decker got after casting the deciding vote in the speaker’s election.

Black also admitted accepting more than $25,000 in cash from several chiropractors when he was pushing their agenda at the state Legislature.

Black began serving a five-year sentence yesterday on a federal charge stemming from the matter with the chiropractors.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)