Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue's health-care plan may be out.

According to a post by Adam Searing on The Progressive Pulse, Perdue released her plan "under the radar and without much fanfare at all." He did not explain.

He writes that the plan would do four things:

* Beef up Kid's Care. She would expand state-provided health care coverage to children between 200 and 300 percent of the federal poverty level and allow parents at any income level to buy into the program.

* Extend existing coverage. She would offer a basic health plan through Medicaid for parents below 150 percent of the federal poverty level.

* Expand options for small business. She would use tax credits and offer a preventive-care ccoverage policy to small businesses.

* Focus on preventive care.

Perdue, a former health care consultant, is likely to make it a centerpiece of her campaign. State Treasurer Richard Moore, who is running against her the Democratic nomination, has also released parts of his plan.

Does Richard Moore's health care plan for kids pick an unnecessary fight?

The state treasurer, who is running for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, announced a plan Thursday to help insure children whose families are between 200 and 300 percent of the federal poverty level, or from $41,300 to $61,950 for a family of four.

But the N.C. Kids Care program will already help many of those families next year.

Moore's plan addresses many of the same issues as Kids Care, but it provides slightly more help to children at the lower end of that spectrum.

That difference puts Moore's plan squarely at odds with the Bush administration — a fact he has used to his advantage in an online petition, an ad campaign and a YouTube video.

Details after the jump.

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A coalition of labor and anti-poverty groups criticized the state budget discussions today.

Led by the N.C. Justice Center, more than 40 groups argued that the state should not repeal the "temporary taxes" or use certificates of participation for debt.

At the same time, they said the state should create an earned income tax credit and fund the N.C. Kids' Care program.

The coalition includes ACORN, the N.C. AFL-CIO and the N.C. Association of Educators as well as the the N.C. Housing Coalition, N.C. Fair Share and Working Families Win, among others.

Bill Rowe, head of the N.C. Justice Center, described its proposal as a "can-do budget." 

The Eight Ball missed an easy hit on the Senate budget.

Last week, we asked the cheap plastic toy if N.C. Policy Watch's reported rumor that the N.C. Kids' Care program would be cut was true.

It's first reponse — "Ask again later" — was taken for a dodge, so we asked again, and it said "My sources say no."

As it turns out, N.C. Policy Watch was on the money, and N.C. Kids' Care is out of it.

The revised standings:

N.C. Policy Watch: 1.00, Eight Ball: .667, N.C. Spin: .500

The Senate has released its version of the state budget.

A quick glance at the 272-page document shows a few differences from the House's final version:

* It appears to let the temporary taxes expire.

* It turns the N.C. Kids' Care program into a study.

* It cuts Gov. Mike Easley's salary increase by $327.

We'll post more details as we find them. A summary report is not yet available, but the entire budget can be downloaded here.