North Carolina House budget approved, now heads to Senate - Friday, April 7

Republican lawmakers say their proposed North Carolina budget addresses inflation with big worker raises while spending cautiously, after the state House approved the two-year plan Thursday.The chamber voted 78-38 for the plan, which now goes to the Senate for consideration. The proposed budget would spend $29.8 billion during the fiscal year starting July 1 and $30.9 billion starting in July 2024.The House backed the measure on an initial vote Wednesday following roughly three hours of debate. In both votes, nine Democrats joined all Republicans present in voting for the bill.The bill would offer teachers a combined average raise of 10.2% over two years and rank-and-file state employee's raises of more than 7.5%.READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/north-carolina-politics/north-carolina-house-budget/275-307ad28c-37d0-47f8-b8ba-d10ec6f5839c