Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight, D-Dare, got a chuckle after taking the oath of office from Wake County Superior Court Judge Howard Manning, who has presided over a long-running school-funding lawsuit filed against the state.
“A special thanks to Judge Manning, who is not one of our favorites,” Basnight said of Manning, “but he is a personal friend.”
On the economy:
The economic conditions do not bring great happiness to us today, but it is the hand that is dealt us. And it is the hand we will play with. There are many challenges besides education: transportation, infrastructure, technology, water, sewer, the state health plan … probation, energy use, climate change. … The list will continue. But the focus that will be the greatest … will be the budget.
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This session has to focus on jobs, jobs, and jobs.
