Raleigh, N.C. — Those following the state budget process this year are getting ready for round 2 down at the legislature.

Sen. Pete Brunstetter, R-Forsyth, told me the Senate is getting ready to roll out its plan. Here's the scheduled he laid out:

• Budget subcommittees meet Thursday afternoon to review the House budget.
• The full Senate budget rolls out, at least to members, at some point over the weekend.
• The full Senate appropriations committee meets sometime on Tuesday to consider the bill and move it on to the floor. 

Normally, budgets roll through subcommittees in order to vet each of six large sections. 

"We do not think subcommittees will be necessary and when you see our budget you'll see why," Brunstetter said. I asked if that was because the Senate plan would be much skinnier -- in terms of pages -- than the House version. He replied, after a pause, "yes."

Brunstetter said all of that was subject to change if Senate Republicans feel there is need for more work. But for the time being, it looks like the budget adjustment bill in the Senate will go faster and be smaller than the one proposed by the House. The question then becomes if the two sides can reconcile their two visions.