State leaders have sway over foundation’s grants and investment decisions RALEIGH — The Golden LEAF Foundation, which administers half of North Carolina’s share of the national tobacco settlement, claims to operate independent of political persuasion. But documents obtained by Carolina Journal suggest that Gov. Mike Easley and N.C. Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight wield significant influence over the nonprofit foundation. The centerpiece of their involvement — a recent $85.4 million Golden LEAF proposal to invest in biotechnology initiatives in North Carolina — was part of a larger plan by state Democrats seeking to campaign on a platform of creating...