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Fri: It's either laugh or cry
posted at 2009-02-20 20:01 | Last modified 2009-02-20 20:01
Governor Bev Perdue had the crowd eating out of her hand today at the NC Center for Nonprofits conference in Raleigh. Perdue came to talk to the crowd about the budget mess (more on that below), but lightened things up with a couple of great lines in the Q&A that followed her remarks.
First, she talked about her exercise routine of walking around downtown with her husband and her dogs, accompanied by a member of her security detail.
His job is to keep some terrorist – I think it’s ridiculous – from killing me. I said if all they have to do is kill me, then they’re not a very busy terrorist.
That got a big laugh, but it was nothing compared to a story Perdue told about a proposal she got on the campaign trail. An audience questioner alluded to the anecdote, so Perdue had to explain it. This is one exchange you just have to hear for yourself. (54 sec)
Listen Now!
Most of her presentation was a lot less light-hearted. Perdue was empathetic but blunt as she talked about her imminent budget cuts. “There will be pain,” she warned. She told the crowd that the stimulus money, while helpful, won’t patch this year’s budget hole. And she’s predicting that the coming year’s gap will be even worse than early estimates -- more than $3B, which would be more than 15% of last year’s spending. You can hear her remarks on the budget here. (5:28)
Listen Now!
After her appearance, she told reporters the economy is “grim” and “continuing to erode.” She confirmed she’d revised her shortfall estimate upward since she’d last talked to the press, though when asked, she didn’t cite any new data, aside from what she’s heard about job losses. She also said she’s hoping to have her list of current year budget cuts compiled by next week, though she didn’t say whether she’d announce them yet. And she says job cuts and furloughs are at the bottom of her list of preferred options, but “nothing’s off the table.” Here’s the raw audio of her press Q&A. (5:14)
Listen Now!
More later on incentives, health plans, and session limits. Meantime, if you’ve got a comment, drop me a line.
