Senate lawmakers give final approval to a $19 billion budget today ? and it might include monetary candy for a company with ties to former Gov. Jim Hunt.
Hunt is chairman of the board of advisers for Wireless Generation, a hardware/software company headquartered in New York. It contracts with the Department of Public Instruction to implement reading software for the federal Reading First program.
More recently, DPI contracted with Wireless Generation in December 2009 to provide support for schools participating in a pilot program created by the state that encourages teachers to use diagnostic technology to help students learn.
The Senate budget proposal devotes another $15 million to the pilot program. Gov. Bev Perdue?s original budget would have allocated a whopping $39 million to the program. If passed, the new funds might go to Wireless Generation for the hand-held devices.
Yesterday on the Senate floor, Republicans tried to pass an amendment that would have diverted the $15 million to fund school buses rather than the pilot program. It failed on a party line 20-29 vote.
It?s not clear whether Wireless Generation compensates Hunt, who is the longest serving governor in state history. The company?s website lists 14 other advisers aside from the former governor.
