Easley signs state budget

RALEIGH, N.C. — Gov. Mike Easley on Wednesday signed the 2008-09 state budget, which lawmakers passed a week ago.

Easley had until midnight Friday to sign the $21.4 billion spending plan into law or veto it. He also could have let the bill become law without his signature.

The governor hasn't spoken publicly about whether he likes the spending plan. Easley administration officials have said the bill was improved because lawmakers reduced spending and delayed two tax breaks.

His office issued a two-sentence statement Wednesday afternoon to acknowledge he had signed the budget bill.

"The governor has signed the budget and thanks legislators for their hard work. He looks forward to the General Assembly finishing work on important remaining issues, including legislation on drought, home foreclosure and mental health," the statement said.

Rep. Mickey Michaux, D-Durham, the House's top budget negotiator, said he believed Easley was holding out for additional money for his Learn and Earn alternative high school initiative. Any additional funds would have to go into another bill, however.

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"Kids just can't play at home until Kindergarten, they need to be in a preschool program for 1 or preferably 2 years to help them be successful"

Nonsense...this is just politically correct rhetoric.

Preschool results in several things: 1) More kids being home schooled 2) A higher dependence on the role of government in the development of YOUR children. 3) A justification for larger State government budgets (their motivation)

What it does NOT do, is result in any measurable increase in the performance of kids in school. Even with all this government control (or is it BECAUSE of the government control) we have one of the highest drop out rates in the country and some of the lowest standardized test scores .

RKBA
July 17, 2008 1:29 p.m.

so what percentage increase did the state employees receive?

diana123
July 17, 2008 12:41 p.m.

Teachers shouldn't be government employees!!!

Tired_of_LIBERALS
July 17, 2008 11:15 a.m.

As for teachers getting raises, YES I am a teacher--so of course I am all for teacher raises. Having said that, the public doesn't realize how much goes into being a teacher. Teachers are going to other states to earn more money. That causes a lot of turnover, which is not good for the students. A teacher becomes strong when he/she stays in one school, not when he/she bounces around. It really takes a good year to learn the curriculum, school rules, policies, etc. Each year after that you just build on your procedures and can expand your lessons. Therefore, I think it's only reasonable to try to get teacher pay up to the national average. I have been teaching 10 years and am just now finally making a salary I can live on. Other state employees certainly deserve raises, too, I'm not saying they don't. However, think about it this way....Teachers make all professions possible.

tchr313
July 17, 2008 10:57 a.m.

Smart Start and More at Four are GREAT programs. Many people just don't realize that PreK is pretty much REQUIRED before Kindergarten, due to the elementary curriculum being pushed down further and further. Kids just can't play at home until Kindergarten, they need to be in a preschool program for 1 or preferably 2 years to help them be successful. Many children would be fine without it, but most thrive in K due to preschool. Mom at home working with a child is great, but still not the same as a preschool experience--unless of course Mom is going to continue to homeschool. I fully support Smart Start and More at Four.

tchr313
July 17, 2008 10:52 a.m.