Rep. Ray Rapp is pushing ahead on a furlough bill.

The Madison County Democrat said that Gov. Beverly Perdue's announcement that she has signed an executive order allowing furloughs of state workers is not stopping him.

Rapp and Perdue have different views on her authority. Rapp believes the governor needs legislative permission to furlough state workers, while the governor has said it's not necessary.

"It's important for the legislation to get through the House and the Senate quickly and get her signature on it so that if there are constitutional questions, they won't be a problem," he said.

The bill also includes wording that says it does not preclude the governor's contention that she already has the authority.

"It'll complement — not undercut — what she's trying to do," he said.

A substitute version of the bill to be discussed this afternoon calls for voluntary furloughs to be tried first. It also limits furloughs to 10 days this fiscal year and 20 days next year.

It would sunset on June 30, 2011.

A bill moving through the House would set restrictions on when state employees could be furloughed.

The bill would establish that the governor could order furloughs in economic emergencies as a last resort. Furloughs would be capped at 20 days and only employees who earn more than $30,000 could be furloughed.

"Given the choice between being fired or furloughed, it seems to me this is the more humane choice," said Rep. Ray Rapp, a Mars Hill Democrat and co-sponsor of the bill.

Rapp said Gov. Beverly Perdue has told him she believes she already has the authority to order furloughs, which she has said she would avoid. Rapp said a 2002 Attorney General's opinion casts that authority in doubt.

The bill appeared before a House committee Tuesday and members heard from a lobbyits for the State Employees Association of North Carolina. Suzanne Beasley Malysz said mandatory furloughs would be yet another blow to state employees who will see no raises and increases in their health insurance this year. And keeping state employees at home will affect state services.

"There are many citizens who are going to suffer if you start cutting people who provide those valuable services," she said.

Rep. Rick Glazier, a Fayetteville Democrat and another co-sponsor of the bill, said that because of the state's budget deficit, currently estimated to be more than $3 billion, furloughs will be necessary.

"I think it is fanciful and wishful thinking at best to think we won't have to," Glazier said. "These kinds of options are going to have to be on the table."

The bill will likely eventually be combined with another bill that allows state employees to volunteer for furloughs.

Recent House bills of note:

H.B. 661: City Managers on School Boards, Rep. Ray Warren

H.B. 677: Require a "First in Flight" Background, Reps. Lucy Allen, Lorene Coates, Nelson Cole and Becky Carney

H.B. 691: State Contracts/Slavery Profits, Reps. Larry Womble, Earl Jones, Annie Mobley and Earline Parmon

H.B. 708: Furlough of State Employees, Reps. Ray Rapp, Rick Glazier and Margaret Dickson

H.B. 711: Sales Tax Fairness Act, Reps. Winkie Wilkins and Dale Folwell

H.B. 724: Open Records Attorneys' Fees, Reps. George Cleveland and Curtis Blackwood

Janet Cowell cautioned legislators about furloughs today.

In a press release, the state treasurer warned legislators about several fixes for the state budget shortfall that could hurt the state's AAA bond rating.

She said putting off debt payments or depleting the state's rainy day fund could lead rating services such as Moody's to lower the state's financial grade, leading to higher interest rates for public bonds.

Among the short-term fixes she warned could hurt the state: Ordering state workers to take furloughs.

The issue has been a hot topic of late, with Gov. Beverly Perdue saying she does not want them and House Speaker Joe Hackney saying they should be on the table. A bill has been introduced that would give Perdue the authority.

A staffer for Cowell said the release was not meant to take a stance on the issue, but simply to inform legislators.

* Rep. Ray Rapp files a bill that would give Gov. Beverly Perdue the authority to furlough state workers, which she says she won't do.

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