VOTE HAUNTS: Nearly two weeks after U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell bucked his party and voted against health care legislation, Democrats in his district are seething. The talk is that Kissell may face a serious primary challenge. (Charlotte Observer)

PORTRAIT PLEASES: Rene Dickerson was nervous as he prepared to unveil his portrait of the late U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms. The cloth over the painting dropped, and the room gasped. The crowd broke into long applause. (N&O)

RESERVES AMPLE: North Carolina state government has at least $620 million at its disposal so far to close any budget hole this fiscal year, the state's budget director says. So far, revenue is down $95 million, a fraction of the multi-billion dollar shortfall faced last year. (AP)

A commission appointed to reform the state budget will hold its first meeting next week.

Gov. Beverly Perdue plans to address the Budget Reform and Accountability Commission and charge it with finding ways to save the state money.

"She will be charging them with the task of really looking deep, of not being afraid to make tough decisions and tough recommendations," said David Kochman, a spokesman for Perdue.

Perdue promised throughout her campaign to appoint a commission to eliminate waste and duplication in state government. She appointed members in March. Commission leaders have met to set up a framework for how to proceed but did not intend to get working in time for the recently adopted state budget, Kochman said.

"There wouldn't have been time for them to dig deep on things," Kochman said.

The goal of the meetings would be to have recommendations before next year's short legislative session. 

The first meeting, which is open to the public, is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Administration Building, 116 W. Jones St., in Raleigh.