State lawmakers will return to Raleigh tomorrow to take up budget issues and other controversial measures.
Jessica Jones: The biggest item of business for lawmakers during this summer's short session is the state budget. Legislators are returning to adjust a 19.9 billion dollar budget. The governor is urging a 20.9 billion dollar budget proposal along with a sales tax increase. But Republican lawmakers in charge of both the House and the Senate have already dismissed that plan, saying they won't vote for any tax increases in the revised budget. Republican lawmakers are expected to release their budget after about a week. Democrats have accused them of working in secret without any outside input. Lawmakers are also expected to wrangle over an education plan released by the Senate that would eliminate tenure and reward effective teachers with bonuses and pay raises. Teachers' groups say the proposals will make it hard for low-performing districts to attract teachers.