Perdue says she will veto budget

Perdue's veto provokes a budget showdown with an uncertain ending. Republican leaders say they are willing to go home without a budget revision.

Posted 2:37 p.m. Jun 29, 2012 — Updated 2:41 p.m. Jun 29, 2012

Mark Binker

RALEIGH, N.C. — Gov. Bev Perdue says she will veto the $20.2 billion budget lawmakers passed earlier this month.

"This budget falls short," Perdue said, ticking off a list of areas where she saw flaws. Although K-12 education is the most expensive item in conflict between the governor and lawmakers, she said that failing to provide funding for eugenics compensation and extra parole officers were problematic for her.

During the news conference, Perdue mentioned that the state had $117 million more in tax collections than it had expected. General Assembly leaders have said that money is not new income but tax dollars they expect to refund to businesses.

Perdue took particular pains to outlaw the flaws she say in the education budget.

"Raises for some and pink slips for others is not the right thing," she said. While the budget increases the amount of state dollars that go toward education, it does not provide funding to make up for a loss of federal EduJobs money.

There is little doubt that the Senate will be able to muster the votes to override Perdue's veto.

In the House, Republicans need a handful of Democrats to overturn a veto. Last year, five conservative Democrats did join with the majority.

This year, those Democrats have said they are less likely to flip. Rep. Bill Owens, for example, did not get a video sweepstakes bill that he said would be pivotal in his decision.

Lawmakers are out of town for the weekend, with the exception of some hammering out last minute compromises on other bills. They are expected to try to override Perdue's veto Monday.

Republican leaders, particularly in the Senate, have said they would be willing to go home without getting a budget revision in place. The budget passed last year will still be in effect and Senators have sent the House a bill that would allow the government to continue working under that plan.

Update: Republicans were quick to react to Perdue's veto threat.

“Gov. Perdue uses apocalyptic language to explain her veto, and yet the difference between the dollars she demanded and what we budgeted is a fraction of one percent of the total budget," House Speaker Thom Tillis said in a news release.

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