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Thurs: Feel the Love
posted at 2008-06-05 23:15 | Last modified 2008-06-06 00:32
It was kumbayas all 'round the House after today’s “historic” bipartisan 104-10 budget vote. Who knew these guys were so...nice?
Senior Approps Chair Mickey Michaux was proud of the House and the budget staff:
Listen Now!
Rules Chair Bill Owens was proud of the House and the Speaker:
Listen Now!
Speaker Joe Hackney was proud of the House and its hardworking staff, too:
Listen Now!
Harnett GOP Rep. David Lewis was proud to be a Tar Heel:
Listen Now!
I’m a little verklempt. You?
All kidding aside,
It really was a good debate today. Stam’s failed attempt to run the land transfer tax repeal was just the beginning. After that, a few Republicans went after the $1M annual funding for Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte.
Rumor has it disgraced former Speaker Jim Black himself made a $10M promise to the school to bring it to Charlotte. That’s unsubstantiated, of course. But whoever cut the deal, the state's still paying it off. No one brought up Black’s name today - no one needed to - but it was pretty entertaining watching both sides dance around it.
Opponents of the funding argued there was no law saying the state owed the school anything. But defenders, including a few Republicans, denied that “one person” made the deal. They argued that the state makes these sorts of deals all the time, and that the culinary school is worthy of funding on its own merits because it’s a boon to the region.
(The motion failed, BTW, so Charlotte's still cookin'.)
More amendments followed – COPS, agricultural education funding, groundwater contamination, and courthouse phones, just to name a few. Two hours later, the bill finally made it to third reading, where it picked up two more supporters: one who admitted he didn't vote yesterday because he wasn’t paying attention (Dem Russell Tucker), and one overnight convert, Meck Republican Ruth Samuelson. (No word yet on why she changed her vote.)
Next up...
...is the Senate, where budget chairs are dissatisfied with some big ticket items including UNC enrollment growth and teacher pay raises. This could take a while.
Then again, maybe it won’t, what with four Senate Dems itching to head out on the statewide campaign trail. Budget advisor, former chair, and Lt Gov candidate Walter Dalton said the session could break earlier than ever before. I bet he’s hoping he’s right.
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