What Perdue proposed on budget

Beverly Perdue proposed an independent commission look for savings in the state budget.

In a press release late Wednesday, the lieutenant governor proposed a bipartisan group present up to 10 government efficiency proposals each budget year. Each proposal would have to be put to an up-or-down vote by the legislature.

In addition, she proposed not allowing amendments in order to limit the influence of special interests.

"This will change the way decisions are made in Raleigh," she said in a statement. "It will have a major impact on the budget, eliminating unnecessary spending and enabling us to focus on what's important and what works."

Perdue said the commission's goal would be to identify a minimum of $250 million in savings per legislative session. The first $170 million would be dedicated to eliminating the transfer of money from the state Highway Trust Fund.

Other money would go to education and health care.