RALEIGH (AP) ó North Carolina’s General Assembly has closed down for the year after more than six months of work dominated by the recession, a tight state budget and tax increases.
The House and Senate each held brief sessions Tuesday to adjourn the General Assembly’s legislative work.
Lawmakers spent most of their energy this year balancing service cuts against tax increases in one of the worst recessions in generations. The tough economic times didn’t stop lawmakers from banning cigarette smoke from restaurants and bars, extending tax breaks to Apple Inc. and other businesses promising to create jobs, and bailing out the state-funded health insurance plan for its employees, retirees and teachers.