North Carolina Democrats held a news conference Tuesday blasting state Republicans for their process of adjusting the 2-year budget without allowing amendments. Democrat Darren Jackson of Wake County is the House minority leader.
"The public had no involvement. Our caucus had no involvement. Many in the other caucus had no involvement.... You have a budget that was written by a few insiders and lobbyists behind closed doors."
During a press conference, Democrats presented some of the amendments they would have introduced had they been allowed to. Republican legislative leaders say an amendment process wasn't needed since this is only about adjustments to a budget that was already negotiated in the last session. Democrats say Republicans are scared of taking votes on their amendments during an election year. The budget is expected to pass within days.