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Wed: Well, maybe
posted at 2009-07-29 23:59 | Last modified 2009-07-29 23:59
The rumor du jour is that the House and Senate have arrived at some sort of $990M budget deal. But if that’s true, no one’s willing to confirm it.
It IS worth noting that House and Senate appear to be back on speaking terms. That’s a big step forward from earlier this week. And it’s entirely possible that there is a deal, but negotiators are a little gun-shy about saying so after last week’s gubernatorial fiasco.
Still and all, deal or no, the current continuing resolution runs out at midnight Friday, so lawmakers have little choice except to grant themselves another deadline extension. The Senate approved one today - H102. It’s pretty much identical to the last two CRs, except that it directs the Governor to start implementing the budget cuts that the House and Senate have agreed on.
That’s a pretty fluid list, so I asked House Approps co-chair Jim Crawford for an updated version. He just chuckled, pulling a thick, quarter-folded spreadsheet from the breast pocket of his blazer, but not sharing it. He says the House isn’t likely to go along with the Senate’s proposal, given that the list of cuts won’t be finalized till the budget is.
H102 should be on the House floor Thurs. Follow me on Twitter for live coverage of the vote.
Touch not the pig
State Senate lawmakers agreed unanimously today to ban the state’s environmental rulemakers from adding new water quality regulations to hog farms for two years. Leading the charge was Duplin Dem Charlie Albertson, former Environment chair and the Senate’s leading light on environmental causes. For the backstory, listen for my piece on it Thursday morning on WUNC. 'I'll post it here when I get a link.
Around and about
- The NC Bar has filed a complaint against Rep. Nick Mackey (D-Meck) for failing to file his 2003-2006 tax returns, among other things. Charlotte's Jim Morrill has the details.
- Beam me up, Earl: G'boro's Mark Binker says Guilford Dem Earl Jones is taking heat for a bill to open a "Starfleet Academy" at NC A&T.
- Happy Trails: Char-O's Adam Bell says the Marlboro Man is packing up and leaving NC tonight.
Comments? Drop me a line.
