Senate Democrats have used a parliamentary maneuver to avert a referendum on a proposed $450 million bond proposal, primarily to be used for engineering buildings at N.C. State University and N.C. A&T State University. Some of the money would also go to community colleges while other money would be used for repairs and renovations.
Sen. Neal Hunt, R-Wake, offered an amendment to the bill that would have required that the bonds go to a public vote. Before he was even allowed to explain his amendment, Sen. Bob Atwater, D-Chatham, offered what’s known as a “substitute amendment.” His amendment was unrelated to Neal’s referendum amendment.
Under Senate rules, the passage of a substitute amendment negates a vote of an original amendment.
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