From Sen. Phil Berger’s office:
Brunstetter, Hunt, and Stevens Will Serve as Appropriations Chairs
Raleigh, N.C. ? Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger announced today that upon convening the 2011-2012 session of the General Assembly he will name Sen. Pete Brunstetter, Sen. Neal Hunt, and Sen. Richard Stevens as Co-Chairmen of the Committee on Appropriations.
The Committee on Appropriations is in control of overseeing the state budget. Sens. Brunstetter, Hunt, and Stevens will lead the Senate?s efforts to close an impending $3.7 billion budget gap in the next session of state legislature.
Sen. Berger said, ?Years of mismanagement and recession have left our state budget $3.7 billion in the red. North Carolina must begin to live within its means and adopt a budget that creates a business climate where the private sector can grow and create jobs. Fixing North Carolina?s budget crisis will require new leaders with conservative principles. Senators Brunstetter, Hunt and Stevens have the conservative principles and budgeting experience necessary to lead us out of this crisis.?
Sen. Hunt will begin his fourth term in the Senate in January. Sen. Stevens is entering his fifth session in the General Assembly. Sen. Brunstetter, beginning his third full term, said, ?Throughout the 2010 campaign, Republicans stressed the need to reduce and balance the state budget without raising taxes. Closing this formidable budget gap will require the best efforts of every member of the Senate and House if we are going to do our part to jump start private sector job creation.?
