Wednesday Wrap: Mo' guns, mo' money

Just like Tuesday, discussion in the Senate focused on money, while the House debated guns.

The Senate gave initial approval to its $21.5 billion budget proposal for 2015-16 after much discussion of education spending versus corporate tax cuts. A final vote is expected Thursday.

Then, the work begins, as the House and the Senate are far apart in their spending and their budget priorities but must forge a compromise. The new fiscal year starts July 1, but lawmakers said they expect to work long into the summer before reaching a deal.

In the House, a bill that would loosen restrictions on carrying concealed weapons was given final approval after almost six hours of heated, sometimes personal, debate over the past two days.

Meanwhile, the State Board of Elections said it would turn its investigation into the campaign finances of Sen. Fletcher Hartsell, R-Cabarrus, over to prosecutors to determine if criminal charges are warranted.