Reform coalition irked at budget shutout

The closed-door budget negotiations have irked the N.C. Coalition for Lobbying and Government Reform enough to send a letter to legislative leaders and budget writers.

The letter gives lawmakers credit for increasing openness in recent years, but "the current session highlights the need for greater openness and transparency and for making additional improvements in the budget process," wrote Jane Pinsky, the coalition's director.

She listed several measures that would open up the legislature, such as giving lawmakers three days to review a budget — typically the densest, most far reaching bill they have to consider each year — to at least 24 hours advance notice of any committee or subcommittee meetings, Dan Kane reports.

"If the North Carolina General Assembly wants to continue to enjoy the confidence and support of our citizens, then it must open up this critical process and create a budget that truly belongs to the people of North Carolina," Pinsky wrote.

Last week, a News & Observer reporter was barred from attending a joint meeting of House and Senate budget negotiators. No explanation was given as to how the meeting was exempt from the state's public meetings law. Pinsky said that incident and other reports of closed negotiations prompted the letter.