The state budget is a lot larger than the $19 billion spending proposal that the General Assembly is now discussing. Federal spending on Medicaid, education, and other social programs — and mandates from Washington forcing the state to pay for those programs — makes the real budget add up to $49 billion.
And yet, Gov. Bev Perdue and legislative Democrats say that the budget is not big enough.
To view Carolina Journal’s video story on the state’s shadow budget, click on the link.