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Update: Reax from the Gov
posted at 2009-07-31 21:36 | Last modified 2009-07-31 21:36
This reaction to the budget deal just came in from Governor Bev Perdue:
"I am certain the General Assembly understands the need to protect education, and as critical negotiations continue through the weekend, I must have confidence they will end up doing what's right for North Carolina's children."
I'd love to know what critical negotiations she means. According to Sens Tony Rand and Linda Garrou tonight, it's done: nothing was left on the table, and nothing was left to be decided by Speaker Joe Hackney, Pro Tem Marc Basnight, and the Gov., either.
It's worth noting that the Continuing Resolution Perdue signed late this afternoon essentially makes the budget deal veto-proof. Because it's open-ended, and contains all the necessary authorizations to keep the state running, it could be used as a get-out-of-Raleigh-free card for legislators. If Perdue vetoes their proposal, they can just pack up and go home, leaving her to figure out how to run the state at 84% of spending with no new revenue. Which would be...well, sub-optimal.
When I asked Mickey Michaux about this yesterday, he chuckled. "You said it, not me." But when I asked if that was the intention behind the CR, he said no.
Guess we'll see.
Comments? Drop me a line.
