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Amendments to the state budget were flying fast and furious leading up to the Senate’s approval on Wednesday.

One of them would have required any officeholder who fails to file a state economic disclosure form within 60 days could be removed from office immediately.

That proposal came from Sen. Gladys Robinson, a Democrat from Guilford County, but it didn’t get anywhere.

Rules Chairman Sen. Tom Apodaca, the Hendersonville Republican, had it tabled – but in a nice way.

“It has a lot of merit,” he said. “I just don’t think the budget is the place to put it. It needs to be discussed thoroughly and looked at. It’s a major policy change that’s probably needed.”

***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.

CHARLOTTE ISSUES STEAL McCRORY'S THUNDER: Gov. Pat McCrory triumphantly returned to his home city Monday for an economic development announcement -- but you wouldn't know it from the front page of The Charlotte Observer this morning. Two controversial local issues -- control of the airport and Carolina Panthers stadium upgrades -- stole the show and the front page. McCrory punted on the airport issues but said the effort to transfer control from the city to an independent authority needed more thought. And on stadium upgrades, McCrory said no to the use of state money. (More on those stories below.) Expect more of the same today, when McCrory holds a press conference with the Metro Mayors Coalition but will likely face myriad questions about voter ID and other legislation.

TODAY AT THE STATEHOUSE: The House will convene at 2 p.m. but no votes are expected; the Senate opens at 2:30 p.m. to consider a handful of legislation on the calendar. The action is on Gov. Pat McCrory's desk where four bills await his signature -- including a bill to block Medicaid expansion and prohibit a state-based exchange. McCrory's press conference starts at 2:15 p.m.

***Good morning. Thanks for reading the Dome Morning Memo -- a tipsheet for North Carolina politics. Send news and tips to dome@newsobserver.com. ***

A bill would bring back payday lending in North Carolina, even though the attorney general shut them down in 2006. This time, a key senator has thrown his weight behind it.

Raleigh's city council wants to regulate Internet sweepstakes parlors after a judge failed to shut down the operations recently.

You might have missed the very first vote of the new General Assembly this week.

On Wednesday, the Senate unanimously adopted a resolution establishing rules for the session, including banning lobbyists from rushing onto the floor after the end of each day's session.

Sen. Tom Apodaca, a Republican from Hendersonville, said it was a 15-minute "cooling off" period, during which lobbyists will not be allowed. Lobbyists can continue to stake out lawmakers outside the chambers, and catch them as they retreat to their offices or as they arrive.

While the politicos wait to see if the House can override Gov. Bev Perdue's budget veto, the Senate indicated it is is ready to leave town, override or no.

The Senate Rules Committee passed a resolution saying the legislative session will end tomorrow. "It's time to get the hell out of here," said Sen. Tom Apodaca, Rules Committee chairman. "One way or another, we are going home tomorrow."

The state Senate Rules Committee has voted to refer the results of its inquiry into altered Department of Transportation letters to the state Ethics Commission, which probes ethical matters in North Carolina.

The committee’s chairman, Sen. Tom Apodaca, a Hendersonville Republican, said the commission must review the actions of state employees who took steps to change letters sent to lawmakers that altered the position of a top DOT official on a roads funding issue. More here.

From AP: A North Carolina senator wants to hear from more state employees before deciding how to respond to Gov. Bev Perdue's administration officials changing letters from a Department of Transportation executive without his approval.

UPDATE: See post above. House is shooting for a little later departure.

The N.C. General Assembly is cruising toward a June 30 -- Saturday -- adjournment.

Senate Rules Chairman Tom Apodaca announced the date Tuesday -- retreating from his initial hope/prediction/intention to adjourn today. "Raleigh is a safer place without us here," he said.

The Saturday adjournment next week drew a grimace from Democrats who wonder why not leave Friday, June 29. And surely a groan or two from lobbyists and reporters who must hang around until the circus leaves town.

The Senate Rules Committee chairman launched an investigation today into what he called "fraudulent" letters sent to legislators last week that appeared to reverse the state Department of Transportation's position on the need for $63 million in start-up funds for two toll projects (see today's story with reader comments).

Sen. Tom Apodaca, a Hendersonville Republican, said DOT officials would be asked to speak at a Rules Committee hearing Wednesday morning, and representatives of Gov. Bev Perdue's office would be asked to speak at a second hearing Thursday morning.