“Each funding cycle adds more depth to the portfolio we are building across North Carolina,” said Kelly King, Chair of the NCInnovation Board of Directors. “We are continuing to identify technologies with strong commercial potential and support the work required to help them grow into the companies, industries, and jobs of tomorrow for this state.”

Senator Blackburn's hearing was designed to be the forum where those questions get answered. The original panel was assembled to do exactly that.

Whether a Democrat-backed witness with 13 felony convictions, a disbarment, a probation violation, and $1.7 million in unpaid restitution to his own victims strengthens or undermines that effort – and whose interests his addition ultimately serves – are questions worth asking before May 20.