The numbers of votes and voters provide a little background behind the two House Democrats who voted against the tax-raising House budget last week.

Rep. R. Van Braxton, a Kinston Insurance agent, won by one of the narrowest victories in the House last fall, 51.6 percent to 48.4 percent, against former Rep. Stephen Laroque, a Republican. Democrats outnumber Republicans by nearly two to one in the district, but they don't vote that way. The district crosses three counties -- Greene, Wayne and Lenoir -- that were all won by U.S. Sen. John McCain.

Rep. Cullie Tarleton, a retired broadcaster from Blowing Rock, represents a district with more Republican registered voters than Democrats. He won by a solid margin in the fall, 51.7 percent to 44.3 percent, but he was undoubtedly helped by a Libertarian candidate who took 4 percent of the vote. 

The House approved a budget early Saturday morning. 

The $18.6 billion budget proposal balances a deep drop in revenue through cuts, taxes and federal stimulus dollars.

The state constitution requires that two budget votes be taken on separate days. House Democratic leaders said they wanted to approve the budget this week to leave time to negotiate with the Senate and Gov. Beverly Perdue before the fiscal year begins July 1. So the House voted for the budget 64 to 54 at 11:30 p.m. Friday. 

At 12:08 a.m. Saturday members approved the budget 64 to 53, sending the bill to the Senate. The vote was mostly along party lines.

"House Democrats responded honestly, forthrightly and without demagoguery to do the extremely difficult job of balancing our state's budget," House Speaker Joe Hackney said in a statement. "Our Republican counterparts stood on the sidelines and refused to cut spending or raise revenue; they just said no to every option."

Republicans criticized the specific budget cuts Democratic budget writers proposed as well as $780 million in new taxes.

"This budget will delay our economic recovery," said Rep. Thom Tillis, a Cornelius Republican.

Two Democrats, Rep. R. Van Braxton of Kinston and Rep. Cullie Tarleton of Blowing Rock, voted against the budget.

The first amendment to the House tax package took out a 25-cents per pack tax on cigarettes.

Rep. R. Van Braxton, a Kinston Democrat, proposed the amendment, citing the harm to farmers and businesses associated with tobacco. The proposal would have also added a similar tax to other tobacco products such as cigars and dip.

The tobacco tax increase would have raised $195 million in its first year. The House Finance Committee voted 22 to 7 to remove the tobacco tax from the $940 million package. Before the day is over, more taxes are likely to be added or removed from the package.

The Finance Committee is in recess and is expected to resume deliberations at 1 p.m.

Which House Democrats are in Republican-leaning districts?

According to the N.C. Partisan Index, 10 Democratic representatives are in districts that lean Republican.

The index was created by the conservative Civitas Institute, using results from the 2004 elections. Ratings were based on how the district voted in Council of State races when compared to state as a whole.

Five of the blue fish in red ponds are on House Republican's wish list.

Below, the representatives and their district ratings, from most Republican to least. 

Rep. Ray Warren (R+11), Rep. Alice Graham Underhill (R+6), Rep. Bob England (R+6), Rep. Walter Church Sr. (R+4), Rep. Jim Harrell III (R+4), Rep. Cullie Tarleton (R+3), Rep. Ty Harrell (R+2), Rep. Arthur Williams (R+1), Rep. R. Van Braxton (R+1) House Majority Leader Hugh Holliman (R+1).

In addition, one Republican is in a Democratic-leaning district. Rep. Bill Daughtridge, who is running for state treasurer, is from a D+3 district.

His seat is on the Democrat's wish list. 

Earlier: Blue fish, red pond, Senate edition