The main budget-writing team in the state Senate will include two Republican legislators from Wake County.
Sens. Richard Stevens of Cary, Neal Hunt of Raleigh, and Pete Brunstetter of Forsyth County will be chairmen of the Senate Appropriations Committee next session, likely future Senate leader Phil Berger announced this morning.
Stevens was considered a front-runner to make it on the team because he has experience writing the education budget.
Stevens and Hunt are interesting choices, though, because the next budget could include significant state employee layoffs as legislators try to fill a $3.7 billion hole. State employees represent a major constituency for Wake County legislators.
"Fixing North Carolina's budget crisis will require new leaders with conservative principles," Berger said in a statement. "Senators Brunstetter, Hunt and Stevens have the conservative principles and budgeting experience necessary to lead us out of this crisis."
