Wednesday Wrap: Who's the new guy?

Statehouse reporter Travis Fain joined the @NCCapitol team this week just in time for debate on the state budget. He previously covered the General Assembly for the Greensboro News & Record before spending the last four years covering state politics in Virginia.

Posted 10:45 p.m. Jun 21, 2017 — Updated 10:45 p.m. Jun 21, 2017

RALEIGH, N.C. — Statehouse reporter Travis Fain joined the @NCCapitol team this week just in time for debate on the state budget. He previously covered the General Assembly for the Greensboro News & Record before spending the last four years covering state politics in Virginia.

Speaking of the budget, the House gave preliminary approval and the Senate gave final approval Wednesday to the $23 billion spending plan. After a final House vote Thursday afternoon, the budget heads to Gov. Roy Cooper, who has criticized it.

Democratic lawmakers pork-shamed their Republican colleagues for the large number of special projects in the districts of Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, House Speaker Tim Moore and other GOP leaders. The Democrats also questioned cuts to the budget of Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein's office.

Other than the budget, a bill that could allow Tesla to expand its direct sales to North Carolina consumers surfaced in a Senate committee but wasn't voted on. Meanwhile, a bill relaxing the rules for third-party and unaffiliated candidates to get their names on the ballot is headed for the House floor.

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