GOP lawmakers send budget to Perdue

GREENVILLE, N.C.- The North Carolina House passed the $19.7 billion dollar state budget in a midnight session Saturday morning, and the Senate ratified the bill, sending the first Republican-penned state budget in more than a century to the desk of Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue.

If Perdue does not veto or approve the budget bill within 10 days, it will automatically become law.

Perdue said she hasn't decided whether to veto the bill, but she would do so if she thought it threatened the quality of public education.

--- Original Story - Midnight budget vote scheduled in the State House ---

GREENVILLE, N.C.- State lawmakers are putting in overtime Friday night to pass the state budget.

It’s now in the House of Representatives where a final vote is expected after midnight Friday night. 

Governor Perdue has lashed out against the bill in hopes of slowing it down, but it's likely to wind up on her desk sometime tomorrow.

The $19.7 billion dollar spending plan makes cuts the Governor doesn't like.'

However, the cuts aren't as deep as earlier versions.

Republicans in the majority have the votes to push this through to close a three-billion dollar budget shortfall.

While there are cuts across the board, two agencies that could experience job losses that would really hit hard are education and public safety.

The governor says more than 20,000 public school personnel would lose their jobs including 2,000 and 15,000 teacher's assistants.

Educators here in the East say those cuts could present transportation issues because many of those teachers’ assistants double as bus drivers.

Another area that could see major cuts is the public safety system--- departments like the Highway Patrol are already taking preemptive actions.

Just last week the Highway Patrol put all transfers and promotions on hold and they also suspended future training classes for new recruits.

First responders and firefighters could see positions cut as well.

Republicans who support the bill say that it's a difficult budget year, and that the current plan is the best they can do without federal stimulus money.    

Shortly after midnight, the House will conduct a third and final vote on the budget.

It’s expected to pass, and Saturday it will go back to the Senate.

The senate is scheduled to meet Saturday and is expected to pass the bill along to the governor.

Earlier today the governor said she hasn't made up her mind on whether or not she'll veto the bill, but in the past she's spoken strongly against this bill and says she will make it a point to veto any bill that undermines the school system.