Rep. Rick Glazier says some special appropriations are healthy.

The Fayetteville Democrat made a distinction between bills requesting specific funds for statewide programs and those that just help someone in their district.

He said it's always worth discussing state programs on education or health programs, for example, saying it "sends a signal" that they are worth discussing later.

But with the state facing a $2 billion or higher shortfall, he said legislators should avoid filing bills to help a constituent.

"I'm not filing any bills that relate to special projects back home," he said. "Those kinds of bills are really inappropriate this year."

So far this session, Glazier has been the primary sponsor on 10 bills that would spend more than $100 million.

The bills would supplement teacher salaries, expand technical education and military business centers at community colleges, fund a teaching center, pay for foreign language pilot schools, expand a positive behavior initiative in state schools and expand the N.C. Science Olympiad statewide.

Two bills would benefit Fayetteville: One to give $1 million to support a defense industry incubator there and another to spend $50,000 to clean up a contaminated site. 

State legislators have now asked for $94.7 million.

Seven more bills filed since Dome last checked have added another $1.4 million in spending, even as the state faces a $2 billion shortfall.

The largest request of the most recent batch is for $900,000 to expand social work programs at state colleges, a companion to a Senate bill already filed. The smallest is $25,000 to help community resource councils at state prisons.

Other spending bills would hire 10 new inspectors for the N.C. Department of Labor, give grants to the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Campaign and start a pilot program on international studies at two high schools.

Two others are companions to bills already filed funding an outdoor drama and provide support to people with dementia and their caregivers.

The bills also call for $11.6 million in spending next year.

Ongoing coverage of spending bills is available here.