The first Republican-controlled legislative session in more than a century ended Tuesday afternoon as many departing lawmakers said their goodbyes.
The House adjourned about 3 p.m. The Senate left earlier in the day. The final bill on the House floor -- SB847 -- was a catch all with a variety of goodies. One thing missing: money to get a federal grant to help facilitate the 2012 election. House Republicans added the $600,000 needed to get the $4 million grant to the bill but the Senate stripped the provision.
Rep. Joe Hackney, a 30-year veteran and former House speaker, said his goodbyes by recalling his first bill to make a closed pocketknife not a concealed weapon. Rep. Larry Womble, in his last day purple suit, said his farewells by asking his colleagues to remember the causes he championed.
“This session was successful because we worked across the aisle, we listened to our constituents, and we kept our promises to the voters,” House Speaker Thom Tillis said in a statement. “We’ll continue to do so in the months to come, and I look forward to reconvening the House in January to build on the progress we have made during our first two years.”
