The Budget Game: Third Quarter
The House Appropriations subcommittees rolled out their pieces of the budgets today Friday, except for the Transportation Committee which did its thing Thursday.
There will be more in the paper over the weekend (Saturday probably), but Guilford County seems to have made out okay.
Like in the Senate budget, House budget writers gave the market $1.2 million to help with transportation needs. Mainly, this is to facilitate folks getting to and from the showrooms in downtown High Point back to where ever they're staying.
The Senate budget included another $1 million for marketing that was pretty specifically set aside for the market as well. The idea was that High Point needed help selling itself to potential visitors, particularly with the threat of Las Vegas on the rise.
The House version of that language still provides $1 million but now the language reads: "Provide funds to promote North Carolina industries, including the furniture industry."
Yeah, furniture is still mentioned. But that language gives the Dept. of Commerce pretty broad discretion on how to spend that money. Local reps said they were too unhappy with the language. They also note that the budget is a long way from passage.
That's true enough.
We're in about the third quarter of the political football game known as the state budget.
Gov. Mike Easley kicked things off with his proposed budget. The first quarter of play was taken up by House and Senate budget writers getting together and trying to agree on some common themes, which they've pretty much ignored.
The Senate was on the field for the second quarter. And after a half-time of a couple weeks, the House is taking the field for the third quarter.
According to the persistent buzz, the Full House Appropriations Committee will meet Tuesday to compile the work of all the subcommittees. That would put the House on track to finish their budget by the end of next week.
Then after a quick commercial break, it'll be time for the fourth quarter, as House and Senate negotiators try to come up with a bill that both chambers will pass. Given that the House has proposed a continuing resolution (which would keep the government moving after July 1 even if negotiators can't reach and agreement) the fourth quarter could stretch well into the summer.
The game ends when Easley signs the bill. Of course, he could send things into overtime with a veto . . . but that is not part of the game play yet.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to snag a beer and a big foam-rubber hand.
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