(RALEIGH) – House lawmakers advanced a budget proposal that would cut funding for education and health programs while letting a temporary sales tax expire.

The House Appropriations Committee met for more than seven hours Wednesday before approving the $19.3 billion spending plan.  The House is expected to hold a floor vote on the bill next week.
 
Democrats said the proposal would eliminate more than 18,500 public school employees due to funding cuts for teacher assistants and non-instructional personnel.  Critics also said those cuts could have been avoided by extending the one-cent sales tax increase.
 
“It hurts those who can least afford to be hurt,” said Rep. Mickey Michaux, D-Durham. “It helps those who don’t need the help that they can get.”
 
Michaux was the top House budget writer before Republicans took control this year. He called the plan one of the most disappointing budgets that he’s ever seen. "You don't have to be as vindictive in this budget as you are," he added. “What you have passed is very draconian."
 
GOP leaders said opponents were exaggerating the number of actual state jobs being cut.  Republicans argued the plan puts greater emphasis on the core functions of state government.
 
"It's not draconian. It's right-sizing," said House Majority Leader Rep. Paul Stam, R-Wake. "Service will be provided….children are not going to have classrooms where they are not going to have teachers.”
 
Republicans pointed out that they delivered on a campaign pledge to balance the budget without raising new taxes. “People of this state will have another billion and a half dollars in their pockets next year then they would have had we continued on the same course,” Stam noted.
 
The House budget spends roughly $600 million less than a plan recommended by Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue. Earlier this week, Perdue told reporters she’s concerned that GOP lawmakers want to “unilaterally disarm” education at a time when more knowledge is needed for jobs.