As the Senate considers a full calendar today, state government gets bigger and more expensive.

House Bill 148, “Congestion Relief/Intermodal Transport Fund,” authorizes local governments to increase the sales tax, but the money can be used only to pay for buses, trains, and other public transportaton ? everything but roads.

With not one word of debate or discussion, the Senate passes Senate Bill 202, the $19 billion budget with $1 billion in tax increases, along a party line vote of 27-18.

Government subsidies for energy efficiency and renewable energy measures are increased under House Bill 512, “Incentives for Energy Conservation.” The bill extends the credits to geothermal heat pumps and equipment, extends the sunset on the credits, and expands the credit to gross premiums tax. The bill passes unanimously.

The dust hasn’t settled on  Senate Bill 967 creating the Yadkin River Trust and paving the way for a government takeover of Alcoa that barely passed a House committee earlier this afternoon (and still has two additonal committees and the House vote to get through before it comes back to the Senate).

That didn’t slow bill sponsor Sen. Fletcher Hartsell, R-Cabarrus, from moving forward. As House Bill 1099, “Amend Environmental Laws 2009,” is considered on the Senate floor, Hartsell amends the bill to add the Yadkin River Trust as an environmental entity. His amendment passes easily: 43-4.

House Bill 1389, “Revolving Loan Fund for Energy Improvements,” authorizes local governments to set up loan programs to finance the installation of renewable energy and efficiency improvements that are permanently affixed to real property. Raleigh and other cities want to use some of their federal stimulus money to set up these funds. Interest rates cannot exceed 8 percent. The General Assembly has decided it’s in our best interest to “promote and encourage renewable energy and efficiency … to conserve energy, promote economic competitiveness and expand employment.”   See the recent JLF report from the Beacon Hill Institute for the real costs. The bill passes 46-0.