State lawmakers in Raleigh were moving at lightning speed today. Senate budget writers explained their budget plan to lawmakers. A bill abolishing privilege taxes made its way to the governor (who has now signed it.) And the House gave final approval to a fracking bill.
Senate budget writers spent all morning explaining the finer points of their plan to a packed audience. It would give 11 percent raises to teachers who forego tenure protections, and cut teacher assistants in the second and third grades.
In the House, lawmakers approved a measure that would speed up fracking in the state. It now goes back to the Senate for a final vote. House lawmakers also approved the Senate's version of a wide-ranging tax bill that would abolish privilege taxes in 2015. The governor signed it this afternoon.