(RALEIGH) -- Republican state lawmakers will not waste time moving to fulfill several campaign promises early on when the Legislature convenes on Wednesday. Likely Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger said he expects the General Assembly to take up several bills during the first few days of session.

Among those early priorities: removing the cap on charter schools, requiring a voter I-D card and expanding Governor Bev Perdue’s authority to cut money from this year’s state budget. Berger said additional savings could be reserved to close next year's projected $3.7 billion spending gap.  "There are certain line items that are covered by the general fund that she doesn't have that kind of control over, simply because she's unable to declare a budget emergency given the fact that revenues are coming in at a clip that matches the projections when the budget was put together," said Berger.
 
As far as the a new budget is concerned, Berger reiterated that cuts, not taxes, would be used to close a $3.7 billion shortfall.  "For anyone to suggest that any part of the state budget is going to be immune from consideration for reduction, they're not looking at the situation in a realistic fashion," said Berger.