It's looking an awful lot like Gov. Beverly Perdue won't be having a ceremonial bill signing for the state budget.
Perdue has had ceremonies for a handful of bills this session, notably the ban on smoking in bars and restaurants. While no announcement has been made yet, there are an awful lot of reasons why she won't be hauling reporters and VIPs in to sign the bill into law.
The story line coming from House and Senate Democrats is that no one is happy about the budget, which spends $19 billion and raise $990 million in new taxes. Perdue has said she would sign the budget into law with reservations. She called for even more tax revenue to protect education from cuts.
So far, Perdue's office has announced a couple of unrelated events for Friday. Republicans were probably disappointed to see they wouldn't be able to get footage of Perdue signing a tax increase.
Republican Party chairman Tom Fetzer had planned to blast Democrats after the bill signing. He gave up Thursday.
"I don’t think you’ll see anyone clamoring for the pen that was used to sign this year’s budget. No one associated with the passage of this budget should be proud," Fetzer said in a statement.
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"Where you stayin' next term?"
I think the Governor and her entourage will be ecstatic about signing this bill. What Democrat would not relish signing a budget that raised taxes during a recession. I would think that would be the height of achievement in Democratic circles. Kicking the North Carolina family while it is down is an art form. There's plenty of meat left on the working family bones if you know where to look.
Take pride in your work. Not many have the guts to raise taxes during a recession, especially a sales tax that will hit everyone.
And that talk about cuts was a real "slight of hand." A real magic show.
Let's party! We've raised taxes again and left the whole state numb and dumb................ and ready to vote us back into office. "Where you stayin' next term?"