Senate budget passes, negotiations to begin
The Senate gave final approval to its version of the budget. The vote was 31-14 with two "pairs," groups of two senators who agree offset each others votes even though one of them isn't in the chamber. Local note: Sen. Stan Bingham of Davidson paired with Sen. Jim Forrester, with Bingham as the "yes" vote.
Because of the parliamentary maneuver that was used to shut down debate Wednesday, there was absolutely no debate today.
The bill has to wander back over to the House, which will almost certainly reject the Senate plan, prompting a conference committee. Then negotiations begin.
The main players will be the full appropriations chairs for the Senate and the House, along with other leaders like the majority leaders and - usually behind the scenes until the end - the Speaker and President Pro Tempore. Also, the governor's office has a fair amount of input and usually has folks in or near the room where things are being worked out.
Yes, there will be two pretty big conference committees from either side appointed to work out the differences. But the really hard items - ones were the differences are bigger or more intransigent - get worked out at the higher levels and with fewer folks involved.
Raleigh's Dan Kane had a good breakdown today of the differences between the House and Senate budgets. From that story:
The N.C. House and Senate are just $15 million apart in their budget proposals, a minuscule gap in spending plans that exceed $21 billion. Neither increases taxes, and both offer the same modest pay raises for teachers and state employees.But when you flip through their proposals, dozens of differences emerge, and some could easily keep lawmakers in Raleigh past the start of the fiscal year July 1.
Take the pay raises, for example. Both chambers offer 3 percent for teachers, community college instructors and UNC faculty, with most other state employees getting the greater of a 2.75 percent increase or $1,100. But the Senate threw in a provision that allows Gov. Mike Easley to give teachers another increase this fall if the economy improves.
When I spoke Wednesday with Rep. Hugh Holliman, the House majority leader, he said he expected negotiations to begin in earnest on Monday, although I wouldn't be surprised to see a few discussions here and there on Friday.
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