Rep. Ray Rapp is pushing ahead on a furlough bill.
The Madison County Democrat said that Gov. Beverly Perdue's announcement that she has signed an executive order allowing furloughs of state workers is not stopping him.
Rapp and Perdue have different views on her authority. Rapp believes the governor needs legislative permission to furlough state workers, while the governor has said it's not necessary.
"It's important for the legislation to get through the House and the Senate quickly and get her signature on it so that if there are constitutional questions, they won't be a problem," he said.
The bill also includes wording that says it does not preclude the governor's contention that she already has the authority.
"It'll complement — not undercut — what she's trying to do," he said.
A substitute version of the bill to be discussed this afternoon calls for voluntary furloughs to be tried first. It also limits furloughs to 10 days this fiscal year and 20 days next year.
It would sunset on June 30, 2011.
Blog RSS feed
Re: Rapp still pushing furlough bill
The people of Rapp's district should go to work immediatly to put this guy out of office. He is a glory hound, who will stop at nothing to push his personal agenda.