Speaker Hackney’s statement on approval of budget
“I am extremely proud of House Democrats tonight. Confronted with a crisis caused by national and international factors beyond the control of state legislators, House Democrats responded honestly, forthrightly and without demagoguery to do the extremely difficult job of balancing our state’s budget. Our Republican counterparts stood on the sidelines and refused to cut spending or raise revenue; they just said no to every option.
Last year’s General Fund budget was about $21 billion; this year’s revenues are expected to be about $17.5 billion. We closed this gap with approximately 50 percent cuts, 30 percent federal stimulus funds
and 20 percent in new revenues. That is the right mix for North Carolina. With the new revenues focused squarely on education and helping those who genuinely need our help, we have avoided the worst of the cuts.
North Carolinians have taken pride in this approach in the past, and they will approve of it this time as well. In a difficult year, we found a way to stand up for jobs, early childhood education and the mentally ill. We protected our early-grade classrooms, our community colleges and universities and maintained the fiscal integrity of the state. We keep North Carolina moving ahead.”
– North Carolina Speaker of the House Joe Hackney
Click here to read the Special Report “Reformer in Power” from the January 2009 edition of Governing Magazine.
