The Senate leadership has chosen the budget writers.
Along with longtime budget co-chair Sen. Linda Garrou, Sens. Charlie Albertson, A.B. Swindell and Charlie Dannelly will co-chair the budget committee.
Albertson and Dannelly served on the budget committee for the first time last year.
In recent years, the budget committee has served as Senate leader Marc Basnight's finishing school for ambitious senators, prepping Gov. Beverly Perdue, Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton and U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan for runs for higher office.
In a typical year, co-chairs enjoy the additional power of being able to put pet projects into the state budget and direct funding to their favorite causes.
This year, it may be more of a thankless job, as they struggle to fill a $2 billion gap.
