(RALEIGH) -- The State Senate voted Wednesday to override Democratic Governor Bev Perdue’s veto of the $19.7 billion spending plan for state government, following a vote earlier by the House.

Five House Democrats joined Republicans to overturn the veto during a 73-46 vote held shortly after midnight. Perdue said the budget plan would cause “generational damage” to public education. The Senate vote was not surprising since Republicans had the three-fifths majority needed to approve the override without Democratic support.

House Republicans used a parliamentary move to limit debate during the late-night session. House Speaker Thom Tillis, R-Mecklenburg, defended that decision. He said the budget bill had already been fully discussed.

"People know where they are on the issues," said Tillis. "We've made very clear to the governor that we had the votes and we respectfully requested that she let it go into law and she chose not to."

Democrats argued that the spending plan would eliminate thousands of teaching positions. “You cannot hide this budget in the dead of night – in the dark of night,” said House Minority Leader Joe Hackney, D-Orange. “The people know about this budget. It is wildly unpopular across North Carolina. It is the worst education budget in modern history.”

Republicans also downplayed criticism that the budget would harm education. “Ladies and gentlemen, the sky is not falling,” said top House budget writer Rep. Harold Brubaker, R-Randolph. “This fall teachers will be in the classrooms. Students will be in the classrooms to learn. And yes, North Carolina will be living within their means.”

The five Democrats who voted for the override were Reps. William Brisson, Jim Crawford, Dewey Hill, Bill Owens and Timothy Spear. “We thought it was the best we could do,” said Hill. “It’s a good budget. I can go to sleep tonight on it.”