RALEIGH — The bill advanced after less than two hours of debate. Democrats said the process was moving too fast. Republicans said members and voters understood the issues.
RALEIGH — The legislature’s long-time Democratic leadership bypassed the fiscal pain during this year’s short session by passing a $20.6 billion spending plan that relied partly on an extension of federal stimulus funds and more than $1 billion in expiring tax cuts. In 2011, the new GOP majority won’t have that luxury.
RALEIGH — After winning majorities in both chambers of the General Assembly, one Republican leader details the party's plan for the state. Rep. Skip Stam of Apex is in line to be the next speaker of the House. He says priority No. 1 is balancing the state's budget without raising tax rates. North Carolina is facing at least a $3 billion deficit in the next fiscal year starting next summer. Part of that deficit includes the expiration of a temporary one cent sales tax increase.
The NC House passed a measure Wednesday to equalize the budgetary treatment of students in religious colleges and non-religious colleges. But that would be discriminatory, said the outnumbered opponents.
