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House approves bill permitting spending
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Published: June 30, 2009
RALEIGH
The state House last night approved a spending bill to keep state government running and gave the legislature extra time to pass a more detailed plan for the next two years.
The House voted 93-23 to allow Gov. Bev Perdue and state agencies to spend money even though there's no final budget in place once the new fiscal year begins Wednesday.
"We have not yet reached any agreement on the budget. So we've got to keep state government operating," said Rep. Mickey Michaux, D-Durham, the senior co-chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and a chief budget negotiator.
The bill returns to the Senate, which must accept the House changes or do some quick negotiating. Perdue must sign it into law.
The biggest difference between the House and Senate versions is how long they last.
The House version would expire July 15, giving the two sides two more weeks to work out a plan. The Senate version sets no expiration date.
House Democrats prefer a shorter window because they believe a deadline will speed up compromises on the chambers' tax and spending plans. Another stopgap plan could be approved if there's no agreement by July 15. The Senate doesn't want to waste time on another extension.
"I certainly hope we won't be doing it over after two weeks," said House Speaker Joe Hackney, D-Orange.
There was certainly no urgency late yesterday.
The Senate adjourned before the House passed the stopgap plan and went home.
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