Rep. Cary Allred unsuccessfully tried tonight to make out-of-state high school students pay full price tuition at the N.C. School of the Arts .

The Burlington Republican said that half of the students at the Winston-Salem school are from out of state and are not paying any more than state residents. He said that meant taxpayers were subsidizing the out-of-staters by $14,000 a year.

"I believe that the N.C. School of the Arts was established for North Carolina students," he said.

Rep. Dale Folwell, a Winston-Salem Republican, said that wasn't true. He said the school was designed to be a regional institution — the "Juilliard of the South."

He also brought up George Clooney — budget magic for the second time this week — noting that the actor and Renee Zellweger have been at the school for the last few weeks.

The amendment was defeated on a 41-74 vote.

George Clooney may be a Hollywood liberal, but in North Carolina his name is budget magic.

Rep. Phil Haire, a Jackson County Democrat, convinced the House Appropriations Committee today to shift $50,000 in movie recruitment money to western North Carolina after pointing out that Clooney is shooting a movie at locations between Charlotte and Greensboro, Dan Kane reports.

"Leatherheads," a romantic comedy involving an aging football hero, is slated for release later this year.

Haire proposed taking the $50,000 from a $100,000 allocation to recruit movie productions to Eastern North Carolina. That had Rep. Edith Warren, a Farmville Democrat, up in arms. She said that money is needed to grow film making in her region.

Haire, a chief budget writer, chided Warren.

"I may not be able to get you George Clooney's autograph if you oppose my amendment, Edith," Haire said.

The amendment passed 48-16.