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Sen. Ed Jones says filing a spending bill is like buying insurance.

The Halifax County Democrat has filed 10 bills seeking a total of $17.2 million in special appropriations.

He said that he knows with the state facing at least a $2 billion shortfall that chances are slim any of his projects will get funding.

But he said that he wants to make sure he's in line in case some extra money is found.

"I want my insurance policy out there just in case something does happen," he said. "People sent me up here to look after their best interest, and this is in their best interest."

All of Jones' proposals are for spending in the seven counties he represents: Repairing the historic Hope Plantation in Windsor, the Newbold-White House in Hertford, and the Barker House in Edenton; building a public library and a Boys and Girls Club in Ahoskie; replacing a high school roof and building a senior center in Gates County; and upgrading a child care facility.

The largest bill is for $11.8 million to expand and run the N.C. Center for Automotive Research in Jackson.

Jones said the spending is especially needed in the poorer northeastern counties he represents, saying it's comparable to a lottery ticket.

"You can't win if you don't play," he said.

State legislators have now asked for $87.9 million.

Seven more bills filed since Dome last checked have added another $14 million in spending requests for specific programs, even as the state faces a $2 billion shortfall.

The largest request of the most recent batch is $11.8 million for the N.C. Center for Automotive Research for a driving course and other facilities. That bill also asks for $6.4 million in next year's budget. The smallest request is for $129,000 in upgrades at the Ingram Planetarium.

Other spending bills filed so far this week would replace the roof at Gates County High School, repair the historic Newbold-White House, provide support to people with dementia and their caregivers and expand social work programs at state colleges.

In addition, a bill was filed in the House that is identical to a Senate bill that would provide $44 million in bonuses to teachers that were not given out in 2007.

Those two bills remain the single largest requests for spending so far.

In addition to the spending this year, the special appropriations bills also call for an additional $7.9 million in next year's budget.