RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The Latest on the North Carolina House debating a proposed two-year state government spending plan (all times local):
5:30 p.m.
House Republicans have advanced their spending plan for North Carolina state government through the chamber’s largest committee.
The House Appropriations Committee voted for a two-year state government spending plan Wednesday after debating for several hours and considering dozens of amendments.
The measure now goes to the full House for first of two required votes Thursday.
The bill spends the same amount next year as the Senate plan approved three weeks ago, or almost $23 billion. But the House proposal differs from the Senate budget in several areas, including teacher and state employee pay and the scope of tax reductions.
Both plans spend several hundred million dollars less than what Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper recommended. Cooper says in a release the House budget “shortchanges our state at a time when we don’t have to.” There’s a revenue surplus this year.
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1:55 p.m.
North Carolina House Republicans would offer average raises to public school teachers next fall in its budget bill that are slightly lower than what the Senate’s proposal offers. But the most veteran teachers would get permanent pay raises and the opportunity for $5,000 bonuses.
Legislative staff say the House budget measure debated Wednesday in committee would provide an average 3.3 percent increase for teacher pay. The Senate budget’s average pay raise is 3.7 percent. But the House GOP plan would give a $300 bump for those teachers with at least 25 years of experience. The Senate would provide no such raise for these veteran teachers.
Teachers with at least 27 years of experience also would get bonuses in the House plan if they commit to teaching through the 2019 or 2020 school year.
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4:40 a.m.
The Republican-controlled House remains on track toward getting its North Carolina government budget bill approved by the end of the week.
The House’s top budget-writing committee prepared for hours of debate Wednesday on its two-year spending plan. Several portions of the GOP proposal already have been unveiled, with details on teacher and state employee pay expected to be released during the House Appropriations Committee meeting.
The House tax proposal inside the budget released Tuesday would cost about $350 million to carry out over two years, with increases in the standard deduction and some tax breaks for businesses.
The Senate already has approved a budget plan that cuts taxes more than the House seeks. The two chambers ultimately will negotiate a final budget to present to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
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