House wants to pressure agreement

House Speaker Joe Hackney said Monday night that House Democrats want to keep pressure on budget negotiators to reach an agreement.

A budget deal to raise $990 million in new taxes fell apart last week after Gov. Beverly Perdue said she was opposed to a plan to raise income tax for all state residents. Perdue also said she wanted to see an additional $200 million in taxes to protect education.

Hackney said talk floating around the legislative building of sending lawmakers home while budget negotiators finish their work isn't on his agenda.

"Our folks want to stay here and work and try to keep the pressure on an agreement," Hackney said.

Right now, Senate negotiators have said they are not ready to talk as they work on a plan to reform the state's tax structure. Hackney said July 27 is a little too late to take up such a complex endeavor. The fiscal year began July 1.

House negotiators want to work off the plan the House and Senate developed last week.

"They've told us that they don't want to negotiate right now," Hackney said. "We'll send them a plan and hope that changes."

The primary order of business this week will be developing a new continuing resolution to replace the one that expires Friday. The resolution would authorize state government to continue operating without a budget.