NC lawmakers to go home for weekend without budget

RALEIGH — The North Carolina Legislature will adjourn for the July 4 weekend without passing a state budget.

House and Senate leaders broke up negotiations Wednesday night and said they would return Thursday. House Speaker Joe Hackney and Senate leader Marc Basnight each said the two required votes on a final deal probably won’t occur now until at least next week.

The budget negotiations have slowed down this year after Gov. Mike Easley complained that fellow Democrats needed to spend less or drop proposed tax breaks. He said revenues were $70 million less than expected as the fiscal year ended Monday.

Hackney said the House and Senate have eliminated most of their differences on education and state construction spending, but other items are still being negotiated.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)