House Democrats talk agenda
Sure, it's three weeks into the session, but the House Democrats rolled out their priorities for the session. No big surprises: education and drop-out prevention figure prominently, health care for kids and bolstering the mental health system do to.
Speaker Joe Hackney and Majority Leader Hugh Holliman stressed they were looking for money for key priorities and having to find cuts. When asked about the dozens and dozens of small appropriations bills that members were filing to lay claim to slivers of the budget pie, Holliman smiled.
"I would suggest to you that there will be very, very limited funds making it into the budget," he said.
Rep. Nelson Cole, a big wheel on transportation issues, acknowledged that there had been talk about a bond issues for building roads and such.
"That decision will not be made until we get close to the end of session," he said.
For you masochists out there, click here to listen to the 25 minute Q+A with us scruffy media types. (Audio link is repaired.)
The AP's take after the jump.
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From our friends at the Associated Press:
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) _ House Democrats say they'll expand health care access and help families keep their homes out of foreclosure. And they'll do without raising taxes this year.The House Democratic Caucus on Wednesday rolled out its agenda for the rest of this year's legislative session.
The majority party in the chamber highlighted eight priority areas, from helping people hurt by the slowing economy to improving education. Efforts at gang prevention and providing money to help build some toll roads also were mentioned.
But House Majority Leader Hugh Holliman says there isn't much support in the caucus for generating new revenues. Gov. Mike Easley's budget included more than $160 million in new money through higher cigarette and alcohol taxes.
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