Greeting From Raleigh 6-16-06

My colleagues and I focused most of our time this week on finalizing and passing our version of the budget. The $18.9 billion spending plan, which was approved overwhelmingly by the House on Wednesday and Thursday, makes much needed investments in education, health and human services, our courts and public safety programs, economic development, transportation, our environment, and pay raises for teachers and state employees, while also providing more than $160 million in tax relief for all North Carolinians.