Senate formally rejects House budget

Submitted by markjohnson on June 15, 2009 - 8:10pm.
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The N.C. Senate voted unanimously Monday night not to go along with the budget the House approved Saturday.

Delegations from the two chambers will now meet to work out a compromise, Lynn Bonner reports.

The House passed an $18.6 billion budget that includes $780 million in new taxes. The Senate's previously approved spending plan, drafted before the worst of the state's revenue news had come in, weighs in at $20 billion. It contains $500 million in new taxes, but senators haven't approved a plan spelling out how that money is raised.

Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight, a Manteo Democrat, appointed more than half of the Senate as conferees, but the appropriations committee chairs will handle most of the negotiating.

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Re: Senate formally rejects House budget

Submitted by wesburns on June 16, 2009 - 6:34am.

I think the Senate's assumption that there will be $20 billion to spend is absurd. The House budget makes much more sense.

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Re: Senate formally rejects House budget

Submitted by melted on June 16, 2009 - 4:05am.

The first step in the legislators staying in Raleigh till at least September or October. From July 1 till a budget is passed each legislator will pocket a little over $100/day for per diem. Very few if any legislators refuse this money and some legislators board with family or friends while they are in Raleigh so they spend nothing on hotel or apartment expenses. As long as the legislators know they can freely pocket this "free money" they do not have an incentive to pass a budget by July 1 of each year. I don't see the News & Record talking about this waste of state employee, teacher and tax money. Years ago the per diem amount was $104/day and I am sure it is higher today. ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WASTE, WASTE, WASTE IN RALEIGH AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE.

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