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The top three Republican politicians in the state announced Friday they are all together when it comes to Medicaid reform.

Gov. Pat McCrory, Senate Leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Thom Tillis sent out a joint news release emphasizing that – despite criticism of the move toward privatization – the state is proceeding with plans to reign in costs in the $13 billion program.

Their joint announcement said the state Senate’s budget will require the state Department of Health and Human Services submit a waiver application to the federal government. The budget, which will be released Sunday evening, will have to be approved by both chambers in the General Assembly.

A federal waiver would allow the state flexibility in operating and paying for its Medicaid programs. McCrory has said he wants to privatize some of Medicaid as a way to reduce cost overruns.

Guiding principles in the state’s reform plan include focusing on behavior as a way to improve health, making it easier on providers, and developing a reliable estimate of costs.

On Thursday, the House approved spending $400 million through next month to close the current shortfall and repay the federal government other debts.

Department of Public Safety Secretary Kieran Shanahan still has some clients from his law firm, despite a full plate running a state agency.

Republican U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers was elected as an outsider. But she faces a competitive field if she runs for Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan's seat in 2014.

Public school advocates form to stop legislative proposals they contend would undermine public education.

A federal lawsuit says 21 correctional officers at Central Prison beat handcuffed and shackled prisoners, The Associated Press reports.

North Carolina was one of the first states in the country to adopt public financing of judicial elections and has been considered a model for other states.

But a bill in the Senate and McCrory's proposed budget call for eliminating the program which 80 percent of judicial nominees voluntarily use. (Getting rid of the public financing of elections, by the way, was one of 11 action items the John Locke Foundation suggested for the first 100 days of the 2011 legislative session.)

Lawmakers don't get started until this afternoon with a committee meeting but that won't stop the protestors from showing up early.

NAACP President William Barber will be joined by clergy from around the state for a 10 a.m. news conference/protest at the General Assembly. The group plans to issue a "Call to Action to all People of Good Will of North Carolina to protest the immoral, mean-spirited, extremist and unconstitutional attacks against African-Americans, Latinos, poor and working people, women, students and the elderly launched by the far right."

Welcome to Monday, and thanks for reading the Dome Morning Memo. A roundup of North Carolina political news and analysis below.***

The suspicious package in Gov. Pat McCrory's office that caused the Administration Building to be evacuated Thursday turned out to be a false alarm.

The package was tested for toxicity and results came back negative, said Kim Genardo, the governor's spokeswoman

“Fortunately it was a false alarm,” she said. “But you can never too be vigilant.”

A member of the governor's staff opened a package late Thursday and became concerned about it's contents, contacting emergency personnel. The building was evacuated for about 35 minutes, while a hazmet team removed the package.

***Good morning, and TGIF. Welcome to Dome Morning Memo, a look at the day ahead and a roundup of the news you might have missed Wednesday.

***Good morning, and with the end of the week in sight, welcome to Dome Morning Memo, a look at the day ahead and a roundup of the news you might have missed Wednesday.

***And with that, Dome's Morning Memo says, let the games begin. Welcome to Wednesday, an action-packed day for politicians on Jones Street and beyond. Here's our look at the day ahead and a round-up of what's being said.***

The bill appeared fast-tracked but had a rough go in its first of several committee meetings. Gov. Pat McCrory has said he expects the bill to undergo some changes.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Mike Hager, R-Rutherford, has ran into some opposition to the bill in his own backyard. The Daily Courier reports that the town manager of Lake Lure has written a letter to Hager explaining that the town's finances would be hurt by the bill because the dam at Lake Lure produces renewable energy that it sells back to Duke Energy under the current law. The town made $425,000 in 2010 though the amount varies. The funds are used for upkeep of the old dam.

TODAY AT THE STATEHOUSE: Lawmakers return this evening with both the House and Senate convening at 7 p.m.

WHERE'S GOV. PAT?:Gov. Pat McCrory visits GlaxoSmithKline in Research Triangle Park. The visit is closed to the press and public.

***Good Monday morning. Thanks for reading the Dome Morning Memo. A roundup of North Carolina political news and analysis below.***

During his first campaign for governor in 2008, Republican Pat McCrory hammered his opponent, Bev Perdue, on her ties to major Democratic Party fundraisers on the state Board of Transportation.

McCrory vowed repeatedly in 2008 that he would never appoint his campaign fundraisers to transportation, university and other powerful boards if he was elected governor.

But that's what he just did after he won the 2012 election, The N&O's Bruce Siceloff reports.