NC lawmakers expect to gavel session out quickly

The North Carolina General Assembly will reconvene Monday, but legislators said the skeleton session should adjourn quickly.

Among several legislative committee meetings Monday morning, the joint Transportation Oversight committee is expected to roll out a compromise proposal on ferry tolls.

The 2011-12 state budget mandated that the state Department of Transportation raise $5 million a year through new tolls on five of seven ferry routes.

Gov. Beverly Perdue issued an executive order in February to block the tolls, but state Attorney General Roy Cooper issued a letter saying that the executive order "raises substantial concerns under our Constitution" and that the new tolls should be should implemented.

State lawmakers said they do not expect to take any recorded votes in the main session of the General Assembly, which convenes at noon Monday.

House Speaker Thom Tillis said a limited number of colleagues would attend and encouraged others not to accept expense checks unless they are traveling to Raleigh for other legislative activity.

Republican legislators set aside a few dates this year to reconvene if redistricting map changes were required. Democrats are suspicious of these meetings because GOP House members overrode a veto by Gov. Beverly Perdue during a January visit.

The Legislature is next set to return May 16 for its traditional budget-adjustment session, which should last several weeks.