Budget's done in surprising speed

With public scrutiny, and lawmakers' eyes on fall elections, fewer tie-up tactics emerged

In some years, state lawmakers have found it so hard to get the public's business done during the so-called short legislative session that they've hung around into October. This year, they are likely to leave in time to go to the beach.

Chalk it up to a desire to get back to campaigning for re-election and a state House dogged by scandal.

In less than five weeks, the Senate and House have approved their respective budget proposals. Hard-fought issues in past sessions, like an end to video poker and an increase in the minimum wage, have moved through both chambers almost as quickly as resolutions to honor the war dead.

It's a situation reminiscent of two decades ago, when Democrats had an iron grip on the legislature, except that today Republicans are just a few seats away from controlling the House. These days, the legislative buildings are crammed with groups holding their rally days for favored causes because if they wait too long, there might not be any lawmakers around to talk to.

"I am exhausted," said Roz Savitt, a lobbyist for the N.C. Child Care Coalition. "I've lobbied for 21 years, and I don't think I've ever experienced this kind of compression."

The most obvious reason for the revved up session is that lawmakers have to run for re-election this year, so they want to get home to their districts with enough time to campaign. Control of the legislature will be the marquee contest come Election Day, because there are no major statewide races on the ballot.

Lawmakers, lobbyists and other observers also say several scandals that rocked the legislature over the past year have forced lawmakers to act more openly, cutting out much of the backroom dealing that extends sessions.

They say the controversies involving some of House Speaker Jim Black's political and legislative activities, which have led to state and federal criminal investigations, are causing lawmakers to want to get their business done in case any future indictments reach into the legislature.

"I hope it's all behind us, but we don't know," said state Sen. David Hoyle, a Finance Committee co-chairman and Gaston County Democrat. "If there were ever to be a change in leadership in the House, I don't think there are 61 votes there for anybody. We could be here till Christmas."

Black said he doesn't sense any fear among his colleagues as they roll through the session, though he acknowledges that people predicted the session would be chaotic because of his troubles. House Democrats stood by him in a caucus meeting before the start of the session; since then, none has pushed for him to step down.

"I believe this is one of the most productive short sessions ever," said Black, a Mecklenburg County Democrat.

He also said the public focus on "gray areas" in legislative ethics, campaign finance and lobbying have cut down on some of the tactics that tie up legislation. Before the session began, Black announced that he opposed putting measures that have little to do with spending -- known as special provisions -- in the budget.

Some of those initiatives amount to major policy changes that become law with little public scrutiny. Black caught heat for two tucked into last year's budget: an eye exam requirement for children before they enter kindergarten, and a prohibition on requiring patients to pay more in insurance copayments to chiropractors than family doctors.

Senate leader Marc Basnight, a Democrat from Manteo, disagrees with Black on the use of special provisions. But the Senate budget contained far fewer than in previous years.