Hot, intemperate and unpleasant
So does the title of this post refer weather or the debate over the state budget?
Take your pick.
Actually, I'm somewhat amazed by the variety of answers I get when I ask different folks who supposedly should know about progress on the budget. Every sentiment on the rainbow of human emotion seems to be represented.
But in general, the collective mood toward the end of this week has pointed more toward mostly cloudy rather than partly sunny.
Here's the latest on this mess from our friends at the Associated Press:
RALEIGH (AP) - Senate leader Marc Basnight said budget negotiations are "pretty lousy" and attributed the problems in part to a self-imposed spending cap by Gov. Mike Easley. The governor wants the spending increase in the final budget he signed less than 5.6 percent higher than last year's spending. The House budget proposal approved last month is about $100 million higher than would be allowed under the cap.House Speaker Jim Black, D-Mecklenburg, said falling under the cap is a moving target in negotiations. He said House and Senate negotiators and Easley's office are debating which spending items should count toward the cap. Black said those items include the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, money for the Job Development Investment Grant program and payments to make up for $130 million that Gov. Mike Easley withheld earlier this decade from the state employee retirement system to balance the budget.
The latest stopgap spending measure approved this weeks gives the Legislature until Aug. 5 to come up with a final spending plan for the next two years.
So, anyone want to start placing bets on Continuing Resolution Number 3? Man alive, I hate sequels.