State Rep. Susan Fisher has received an award from Lillian's List.

The group, which promotes Democratic women, gave the Asheville Democrat it's first "Courage Award" last month.

Fisher was recognized for her unsuccessful effort to make comprehensive sex education available in North Carolina schools during the 2008 session.

"Representative Fisher wanted to restore a curriculum to our schools based on sound evidence not ideology," the group noted in a press release. "She was committed to providing young people with unbiased, life-saving information."

The award was presented at a recent luncheon in Raleigh.

This session, Fisher is pushing a new bill that would require schools offer two tracks — comprehensive and abstinence-only — and allow parents to choose.

Gov. Beverly Perdue said this morning that she has asked administration officials to go back and find more programs to cut in the face of the $2 billion budget shortfall.

Perdue has received a list of options for a seven percent budget reduction for the fiscal year that begins July 1. A list provided by the governor's office included at least $470 million in cuts, Rob Christensen reports.

But Perdue said she was not satisfied that most of the options recommended were across the board cuts. She asked that the departments go back and identify more programs that can be eliminated.

"They have sent me a list of what the 7 percent would look like," Perdue told reporters after speaking to a Raleigh breakfast sponsored by Lillian's List, a pro-choice women's group.

"I have specifically asked(budget officials) for some programmatic cuts not just across the board," Perdue said. "This looks to me like a lot of across-the-board cuts. I find it hard to believe that there are not things that could be eliminated."

Most of the options proposed by the various state agencies include general across-the-board reductions, or eliminating positions.

But the list does include options for eliminating a few programs such as the Epilepsy Medical Care Services, the Cystic Fibrosis Medical Care Services, the state abortion fund, chiropractic and podiatric services for individuals over 20, close five unidentified correctional centers, close the McCain Correctional Hospital and close the Wilmington Residential Facility for Women.

Gov. Beverly Perdue signaled to a feminist group this morning that she would be a stalwart defender of a woman’s right to an abortion.

"North Carolina is going to be a state where choice is safe under my watch," Perdue told about 230 people at a breakfast sponsored by Lillian's List, a pro choice group, reports Rob Christensen.

As the state's first woman governor, Perdue received a hero's welcome at the breakfast the Cardinal Club in downtown Raleigh. Perdue talked about a number of incidents when young girls or women said it meant so much to them that the glass ceiling had been broken.

But she told the women not to get overconfident because men still had a 4-1 margin in the legislature and women still earn only 78 cents on the $1 of what a man earns for performing the same job.

Perdue's voice was raspy. She said she has had a case of bronchitis for the past two weeks.

Also attending the event were former Gov. Jim Hunt, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, state Treasurer Janet Cowell and state Auditor Beth Wood.

Update: Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin also attended the event.

Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue will speak at a Lillian's List gathering.

Perdue will be the keynote speaker at a Jan. 28 "victory breakfast" by the group, which promotes pro-choice female candidates in North Carolina.

The event will be held at the Cardinal Club on the penthouse levels of the Raleigh skyscraper known for the time being as the Wachovia Capitol Center.

It's not known what Perdue will say, but the state's first female governor will no doubt reference the group's namesake, first female Southern legislator Lillian Exum Clement.

The breakfast will also honor candidates backed by the group, including state Reps. Alice Bordsen, Jane Whilden, Margaret Dickson, Alice Underhill, Lucy Allen, Linda Coleman, Maggie Jeffus and Jennifer Weiss.

Tickets cost $100. Sponsorships are also available for $250 to $4,000.

Registration is online here.

While some campaign staffers were already calling the election for Beverly Perdue, Zach Ambrose came on the microphone to announce the Associated Press call for Perdue's victory.

In anticipation of Perdue's victory speech, the music was turned to "Celebrate" and then "Beautiful Day" by U2. Cheering, dancing and cocktails followed.

Cindy Estill, of Raleigh, said the win was "fabulous."

"I love that she's a woman, a strong woman and says what she thinks," she said. "She says a lot about where we need to go."

Brenda Tipton, of Pine Top, said she is excited about Perdue's victory.

"I think she's a go-getter," she said.

Gail Perry, of Raleigh, said she thinks Republican contender Pat McCrory has little chance of defeating Perdue in November.

"She's developed a strong political network across the state," said Perry, a member of the board of Lillian's List. "Her support is broad. It's deep. And she's got Andy Griffith."

Friday's political fundraiser by Lillian's List brought in more than $100,000, organizers said in a news release.

Lillian's List raises money to help female Democratic candidates for the state legislature who support abortion rights. The group, which has a political action committee, is named after the state's first female lawmaker, Lillian Exum Clement.

Among the attendees were former Gov. Jim Hunt and his wife, Carolyn; Democratic gubernatorial candidates State Treasurer Richard Moore and Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue; U.S. Rep. Brad Miller; and former ambassador Jeanette Hyde.

The fundraiser, held in Cary, commemorated Lillian's List's 10th anniversary.

Democratic women will have a lot to celebrate tonight when they gather in Cary for the 10th anniversary of Lillian’s List of North Carolina.

Lillian’s List promotes female candidates who are pro choice. And there will be a lot of them on Democratic primary ballots next year, including presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, gubernatorial candidate Beverly Perdue and U.S. Senate candidate Kay Hagan, reports Rob Christensen.

The speaker at dinner at Embassy Suites hotel will be Ellen Malcolm, president and founder of EMILY’s List, the national group that promotes female candidates who are pro choice.