Democrats Should Release Budget Proposal

Is Star Fleet Academy in State Budget?

Raleigh, N.C. – Democrats continue closed-door meetings in an attempt to reach a budget deal. Published reports indicate Democrats have agreed among themselves to spend $20.3 billion, a number which includes federal stimulus funds. What the Democrats have not finalized is their plan to raise taxes by $990 million. Most members of the General Assembly, Democrats and Republicans, as well as the news media and the general public are not privy to the details of the plan being worked out. Democratic leaders historically have concealed specifics regarding the budget until a short time, in most instances just hours, before a vote. The result is that items of wasteful spending are found in the conference report that were not part of House or Senate budgets.

An example of proposed spending which may end up in the final budget is the bill introduced by two Democrats that would spend $1.7 million for a “Star Fleet Academy” at North Carolina A&T State University. (“Set phasers to ‘educate’,” Under the Dome, 7/29/09)

Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) made the following statement:

“What are Democrats hiding? It’s past time for them to release their spending plan. As we have seen on too many occasions wasteful spending and pork barrel projects gain final budget approval because those provisions are inserted during closed-door meetings and there is no time for a thorough review once the budget plan is made public. Democratic legislators could greatly advance the cause of open government by allowing public review of how they plan to spend the public’s money.”

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