The N.C. Senate passed the budget 26-8 in less than fifteen minutes, but the House spent more than an hour debating budget-related issues, ending in a 63-53 vote.
Rep. Edward Redwine, D-Brunswick, opened the budget discussion, which ended almost three months after the start of the fiscal year, by reassuring legislators about the budget they were about to pass.
"I really don't think any of us should be bashful or timid when voting for this bill," Redwine said. "You can say you were here in a watershed time of the state, and you did the right thing."
Many representatives expressed approval of President Bush's Thursday speech before Congress, but Rep. Joanne Bowie, R-Guilford, expressed concern for what a half-cent sales tax increase included in the budget might mean for citizens in times of war.
"You just don't raise taxes when you have people who are down and may sink lower," she said.
The House vote brought applause from the chamber's members. Speaker Jim Black, D-Mecklenburg, emphasized the magnitude of the event.
"We just finished the most important bill of this session," Black said.
Senate Pro Tem Marc Basnight, D-Beaufort, also addressed the unique issues surrounding this year's budget.
"The condition of our financial position made it a more difficult issue this time," Basnight said.
