House Overrides Budget Veto

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The state government budget proposal written by the North Carolina Legislature is just one vote away from being enacted despite Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue's objections. The House voted shortly after midnight to override Perdue's veto, as Republicans got help from five House Democrats to reach the three-fifths majority in the chamber needed to do so. The Senate's override vote could come later in the day. The Senate's Republican majority is already veto-proof. People in the crowded House gallery watched as the House met shortly after midnight to take up the override question on the two-year spending plan. The nearly $20 billion spending proposal for next year spends $220 million less than Perdue's budget offer and lets temporary taxes expire on time. Perdue said the measure moves the state backward. Additional WFAE coverage: Reporter Lisa Miller discusses budget differences, plans to overrirde veto Governor talks budget veto with area legislators