Republican legislators propose spending $17.56 billion next year. A far cry from the roughly $19 billion Gov. Bev Perdue would spend in her proposed budget.
Republican leaders handed out spending targets to House and Senate Appropriation Committees today with guidance on where to look for savings. Chief among them: consolidate and/or eliminate Smart Start and More at Four, cap university enrollment and consolidate various functions.
“No decisions have been made. No specific positions or programs have been targeted,” said Phil Berger, Senate President Pro-Tem. “We were elected to reduce spending and right-size state government. This is the first step in that process.”
The belt-tightening encompasses all areas of government and differs sharply from Perdue's proposal.
For instance, Republicans would spend $10.5 billion on education, compared to Perdue's $11.2 billion. They would spend $4.3 billion on Health and Human Services while Perdue would spend $4.7 billion.
“The spending targets announced today come at a time when decisive action is required to put North Carolina’s fiscal house in order,” said Speaker Thom Tillis. “The new majority in the General Assembly did not create this budget shortfall, but we were elected to fix it. To do so, we have announced aggressive targets to reign in state spending, which has ballooned over the last decade. Everything is on the table as we look for creative solutions to this problem.”
Comments
“The new majority in
February 24, 2011 - 10:52am — Mona_Pickles“The new majority in the General Assembly did not create this budget shortfall, but we were elected to fix it.
NO they didn't create it, but their idiological brethern at the federal level did with tax cuts for the rich and pro-pharma drug bills and foreign wars.
Democrat urges unions to 'get a little bloody when necessary'
February 23, 2011 - 9:47pm — BigAlphaMaleDemocrat urges unions to 'get a little bloody when necessary'
By Michael O'Brien - 02/23/11 07:57 AM ET
Sometimes it's necessary to get out on the streets and "get a little bloody," a Massachusetts Democrat said Tuesday in reference to labor battles in Wisconsin.
Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.) fired up a group of union members in Boston with a speech urging them to work down in the trenches to fend off limits to workers' rights like those proposed in Wisconsin.
"I’m proud to be here with people who understand that it’s more than just sending an email to get you going," Capuano said, according to the Statehouse News. "Every once and awhile you need to get out on the streets and get a little bloody when necessary."
Where are the proposals
February 23, 2011 - 7:06pm — allrightnowI'd like to see the proposals. Anybody know where they are?
I'm all for making state
February 23, 2011 - 4:51pm — adamunc1I'm all for making state government smaller--but I just hope they're not short-sighted with how they cut. Let's make sure we leave the people and programs who survive the bloodbath in a position to succeed.
What
February 23, 2011 - 4:15pm — stevemichaelsThe nerve of these guys to actually want to fix a problem - shame on them don't they know the way that Raleigh works - you are supposed to use smoke and mirrors, form hundreds of comittees (headed by political hacks) and then just make minor changes - stand in front of a podium to congratulate yourselves and simply kick the problems down the road for someone else to worry about - can not one of those "lifelong" politicians not get this group educated!!