A weakened version of an anti-puppy mill bill is still alive and is scheduled for a House committee meeting at 4:30 p.m. today.

If approved, the bill would go to the full House Monday night or Tuesday morning. 

The bill drew intense opposition in the spring from commercial dog breeders, who saw it as intrusive regulation, and the pork industry, which saw it as a first step in a make-us-all-vegetarian agenda led by the Humane Society of the United States, which is separate from local humane societies. 

The bill headed for committee today has less oversight and lower fines than the original version.

N.C. among the fiscally tardy five...Produce public records or pay...Just say no to underage working...beer and puppies.

Happy first day of the new fiscal year!

FUSS BUDGET - North Carolina is one of five states -- along with Arizona, California, Mississippi and Pennsylvania -- that did not have its budget written on time. (New York Times)

DOCUMENTATION OR LITIGATION - The House Finance Committee today takes up a bill that would require government entities to pay the legal fees of anyone who has to sue to obtain public records.

IPODS, NOT ASSEMBLY LINES - The Senate today will consider a bill that doubles penalties for violation of state child labor laws, now among the weakest in the nation, according to the National Consumers League.

WOOF! SLURP - The anti-puppy mill bill advances, as does legislation allowing beer tastings. As Homer Simpson would say: "Mmmmm. Beer."

The National Rifle Association opposes a bill on puppy mills.

The gun rights group e-mailed supporters in North Carolina today urging them to call state legislators considering a bill to regulate commercial dog breeding sponsored by two Democrats and two Republicans.

The e-mail argues the bill is "part of the same old lie" by the Humane Society of the United States, which it says wants to eventually ban all hunting in America.

"Kennel owners who own and train hunting dogs will be hauled into court under the provisions of the legislation and will be forced, at great cost, to put forward an affirmative defense pursuant to the exception," the e-mail says.

It argues that if the House bill is passed, the Humane Society will be back "with even more radical proposals like this."