The Elon Musk wannabes

North Carolina Republicans and Democrats all say they want to bring more transparency and efficiency to state government. They're divided on how that looks.

Reps. Keith Kidwell and John Torbett (top and bottom left), Auditor Dave Boliek (center), Gov. Josh Stein and Rep. Brenden Jones (top and bottom right) want greater influence over how state government is operating.

A host of North Carolina leaders are taking a page out of the Elon Musk playbook, proposing spinoffs of the federal Department of Government Efficiency.

Now, Republicans and Democrats are tangling over how to best to ensure state government entities are behaving responsibly.

On Monday, the state’s top Republican, Senate leader Phil Berger, unveiled a bill that would give added powers to GOP Auditor Dave Boliek.

Under Senate Bill 474, or the “DAVE Act,” Boliek would be tasked with providing lawmakers a report by the end of the year that includes recommendations of state agencies/divisions/offices that should be dissolved and government positions that should be eliminated.