State senators who represent coastal counties are trying again to loosen the ban on sea walls.

Senate Bill 832, which a slew of scientists, environmental groups, and the state environmental agency oppose, would allow seawalls along the shoreline, with the Coastal Resources Commission's okay, Lynn Bonner reports.

Some towns and homeowners want the walls, called terminal groins, near inlets to prevent erosion.

The Senate tried two years ago to pass a similar law, but the House did not discuss the issue.

Sen. Julia Boseman, a Democrat from New Hanover, said the bill had support from Democratic and Republican senators, including Senate leader Marc Basnight, a Democrat from Manteo.

The Senate committee on the environment discussed the measure, but did not vote.

More after the jump.

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The Military Veterans Caucus is the largest in the legislature.

The bipartisan caucus is made up of 64 "military veterans, those who represent a district with military interest, and others with a particular interest in military affairs," according to a press release from Speaker Joe Hackney's office.

This year, it includes 49 representatives and 15 senators.

That makes it bigger than the 30-member Legislative Black Caucus as well as the 43 women in the legislature.

The caucus' steering committee is made up of Democratic Sen. Bob Atwater, Republican Sens. Harry Brown and Pete Brunstetter, Democratic Reps. Larry Hall and Grier Martin and Republican Rep. Ric Killian.

Atwater served in the Air Force; Brunsetter, in the Navy; Hall, in the Marines. Martin and Killian are Army reservists and Brown's district includes Camp Lejeune.

The caucus will meet for the first time this session next week.

After the jump, the members.

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A few more interesting Senate bills:

S.B. 64: Motorcycle Learner's Permit, Sen. Harry Brown

S.B. 65: Amend Computer Solicitation of Child, Sen. Jerry Tillman

S.B. 66: Require Arts Educ. Credit for Graduation, Sen. Katie Dorsett

S.B. 68: No ABC Establishments W/I 1,000 Ft. of Sch., Sen. Dorsett

S.B. 74: Increase Penalty/2nd Degree Murder, Sen. Ed Jones

The Skip and Phil Show has been renewed for another year.

Legislative Republicans decided to keep their current leadership team — House Minority Leader Paul "Skip" Stam of Apex and Senate Minority Leader Phil Berger of Eden — in place for another session.

Stam faced no challengers, but Berger beat back Sens. Bob Rucho of Charlotte and Pete Brunsetter of Forsyth County, who had argued the GOP had problems with fundraising and elections.

In the House, Stam will be assisted by Republican Whip Thom Tillis of Mecklenburg County. In the Senate, Berger will get help from Deputy Republican Leader Harry Brown of Jacksonville and Republican Whip Jerry Tillman of Archdale.

"The 72 Senate and House Republicans are ready to offer constructive, positive directions for state government," Stam said in a statement. "These are challenging times. Working together, we can bring out the best alternatives based on conservative principles."

Republicans chose Eddie Goodall of Union County as their joint caucus leader, a position that helps the two chambers reconcile legislation. He takes over from state Rep. Dale Folwell.

Related: Winners and losers in the decisions.

Senate Republicans did not have a chance to speak about the budget on the floor this year.

With a Web ad attacking Democratic Senate nominee Kay Hagan's record, Dome is taking a closer look at her record of bipartisanship as budget co-chair.

The ad highlights this year's state budget process, when Hagan served an advisory role. For the previous five years, Hagan was a co-chair of the Senate Appropriations committee.

Here's what happened this year: The House sent a budget bill to the Senate on June 5. It was amended in Appropriations and passed two other committees before heading to the Senate floor on June 18.

On the floor, eight amendments were offered by Hagan and three other Democrats and by Republican Sens. Jerry Tillman, Phil Berger, Harry Brown and Bob Rucho. Tillman and Brown's amendments were tabled, Berger's ruled out of order and Rucho's came to a vote, where it passed.

After 38 minutes, Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand then made a motion to end debate. It passed 30-18 along party lines, with Hagan voting for it.

For comparison's sake, debate on the budget took 4 hours and 36 minutes over two days in the House.

More after the jump.

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Fred Smith has also given donations through his campaign.

The Friends of Fred Smith committee, formed for his first Senate run in 2002 and closed in 2007, gave $100,400 in donations to other Republican candidates.

The biggest beneficiaries were the N.C. Senate Republican Committee, which received a total of $41,800 in 2004, and the Johnston County Republican Party, which received a total of $7,000 that year.

Smith's committee also gave $4,000 apiece in 2004 to several Republican Senate candidates, both successful—Jim Jacumin, Harris Blake and Neal Hunt—and unsuccessful—Margaret Carpenter, Harold Frazier, Harry Brown, Chuck Tyson, Tony Moore, James Testa, and Jack Swann.

Also that year, he gave $2,000 to Senate candidates Beverly Moore and Dennis Nielsen and state Auditor Les Merritt; $1,000 to John Odoom and Ron Toppin; $1,000 apiece to Rep. David Lewis, a Johnston County commissioner candidate and a judicial candidate; $500 to a school board candidate; and $100 to the N.C. New Majority Republican Council.

A pro-business group has made its first round of Senate endorsements.

The political action committee of the N.C. Forum for Research and Education endorsed all but one Republican and 13 Democrats in the state Senate for re-election.

The endorsements were based on the senators' voting records on business issues, how business-friendly they are compared to their district and their effectiveness in office.

The Democrats include President pro tem Marc Basnight and Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand and Sen. Kay Hagan, a rumored candidate for U.S. Senate.

The Republicans included Senate Minority Leader Phil Berger, Sen. Tom Apodaca and Sen. Harry Brown.

The one Republican not endorsed was Sen. Fred Smith, presumably because he is running for governor and not for re-election.

A full list after the jump.

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