RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The Latest on the North Carolina General Assembly debate of the final budget agreement reached by House and Senate Republicans (all times local):
5:30 p.m.
The two-year North Carolina state budget drawn up by GOP lawmakers at the General Assembly is now just one vote away from hitting Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s desk.
The Senate completed its actions on the spending agreement with its second and affirmative vote late Wednesday. About an hour earlier, the House took its first vote on the measure, approving it as well. The House needs one more vote Thursday.
In both chambers, a handful of Democrats joined all Republicans voting in backing the measure, which would spend $23 billion in the fiscal year starting July 1.
Cooper has already labeled the bill fiscally irresponsible by squandering additional funds on tax reductions and pork barrel spending. Republicans have defended the measure as sound and in line with previous years’ plans for encouraging job growth and fiscal prudence.
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3:55 p.m.
The North Carolina state budget negotiated by Republicans at the General Assembly has received another affirmative vote, this time by the House.
The chamber gave initial approval Wednesday to the two-year spending plan by a vote of 77-40. The House should give the measure final approval Thursday. The Senate already has voted for the budget once and is likely to vote a second time later Wednesday.
House Republicans talked up the plan for including higher teacher pay and hundreds of millions of dollars set aside for emergencies and building repairs. Many tax breaks would begin in 2019.
House Democrats debating the budget Wednesday criticized what they call pork projects in the budget and a large cut to the Department of Justice, led by Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein.
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4:10 a.m.
The North Carolina state budget looks on track to reach Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s desk before the week’s end.
The Senate is expected to give its final approval on Wednesday to the two-year spending plan negotiated by General Assembly Republicans, a day after the chamber gave it tentative approval. The House scheduled its two required votes for Wednesday and Thursday.
Cooper will have decide whether to veto the measure he’s already criticized for spending too little on public education and for cutting income taxes again for the wealthy and corporations. But Republicans point out nearly everyone - including low- and middle-income people - would pay less in taxes under the bill.
Not all Democrats agree with Cooper - four Democratic senators joined Republicans on Tuesday in voting for the measure.
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