Governor Adjusts Budget Before Ink Dries on Her Signature

August 17, 2009

Behavior Described as ‘Erratic’

Raleigh, N.C. – After signing a $20.3 billion state budget that raises taxes on all North Carolinians in the midst of a recession and cuts funding for education, Governor Beverly Perdue took the highly unusual step of issuing an executive order cutting the budget she signed just a week earlier by five percent for all state agencies – with exceptions for public safety, education, and health care.  Executive Order No. 21 was released to the media and public late on a Friday afternoon, traditionally a time designed to blunt the impact of bad news.

 

At the same time as she is directing other state agencies to cut back, Governor Perdue hired a new staff member to handle communications duties for her office.  The new staffer will make $136,000 as a communications and policy adviser.  “Perdue already has a communications director, David Kochman; a senior adviser for government relations, Andy Willis, and a policy director, Al Delia. Their salaries are $115,200, $153,000 and $160,000 respectively.”  (“New Perdue adviser homeward bound,” Under the Dome, 8/14/09)

 

Even Democrats and members of the press corps can only describe the Governor’s behavior as “erratic.”  (“Good Luck, Pearse Edwards,” Talking About Politics, 8/14/09; “Friday: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?,” Isaac Hunter’s Tavern, 8/14/09)

 

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

 

“Just a week after signing her budget that raised taxes on every North Carolinian and cut funding for our children’s education, Governor Perdue is admitting that her budget was out of balance.  Governor Perdue should immediately explain why she ignored North Carolina’s constitution which requires her to sign a balanced budget.   Members of the media and her own party are now describing the Governor’s behavior as ‘erratic.’  As North Carolinians continue to endure record unemployment, we need strong, consistent leadership from the Governor’s office – not erratic decision-making and a failure to meet constitutional requirements followed by political spin.”