N.C. budget negotiations continue as gambling expansion remains sticking point
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Tempers cooled as House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate Leader Phil Berger met to negotiate state budget stalled over gambling expansion plan.
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Moore backed off threat to strip out gambling language and pass budget without it, wants to explore options before that.
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Berger wants Moore to call bluff of gambling opponents and bring budget to vote as is, thinks votes are there.
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Budget over 2 months late but no shutdown as state operates on old budget until new one passed.
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Failure to agree on gambling holding up Medicaid expansion, which was tied to budget passage.
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