Today @NCCapitol (Aug. 12): Lawmakers tackle budget limits, limited budget

RALEIGH, N.C. — Good morning and welcome to Today@NCCapitol for Wednesday, Aug. 12. Here's what's going on at the General Assembly and elsewhere in state government.

THE GOVERNOR: Gov. Pat McCrory holds a news conference and rally at 10 a.m. at the Capitol to once again push for the return of historic preservation tax credits used when old mill buildings are turned into apartments or new businesses. Lawmakers allowed the program to expire last year and have not been enthusiastic about renewing it.

RALLIES: Sen. Harry Brown, R-Onslow, is expected to host county commissioners from across the state in an effort to boost the prospects of a bill that would change how sales tax revenue is distributed. Brown's measure would shift money to more rural counties, but large urban areas call the bill unfair.

HOUSE: House lawmakers are poised to extend the state's budget deadline until Aug. 31. The fiscal year began July 1, but lawmakers have been unable to come to an agreement on what is expected to be a roughly $21 billion spending plan. The state's first temporary spending measure will expire at midnight Friday.

SENATE: Senators will take a second vote on a constitutional amendment that would limit spending and taxes in the state. Should the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, or TABOR, bill clear the Senate, it will go to the House, where it's fate is uncertain.