N.C. House passes $20.3 billion budget proposal for next year

RALEIGH (AP) — The state House has given its final approval to a two-year budget proposal that spends hundreds of millions of additional dollars to educate North Carolina schoolchildren and college students and continues a building spree started last year.

The House voted 67-to-50 along party lines shortly after midnight for the budget bill that was written by Democrats.

It recommends spending $20.3 billion for the fiscal year starting July 1.

Lawmakers proposed a budget that spends more than this year with help from unexpected revenues and a decision by Democrats to extend two "temporary" taxes for another two years.

House Speaker Joe Hackney says he thinks it's a good start to this year's budget process.

But Republicans have complained that budget growth outpaces population and inflation increases and doesn't follow through on promises to end the temporary taxes.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)