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Is NC heading for another special session? Perhaps.

The folks over at NC Policy Watch pointed out yesterday that jobless benefits for 25,000 long-term unemployed North Carolinians will stop at the end of the month.

The issue is very similar to one that provoked a war of words (and a veto) between Gov. Bev Perdue and the Republican-controlled General Assembly last summer. (Background here and here.) There's an extra dollop of contentiousness added to the issue given the ill-will between senate Republicans and Lynn Holmes, who heads North Carolina's employment security agency.

The bottom line, asWRAL reports, is that some sort of fix is needed. And if that fix requires a change in state law, that would mean another special session.

House Speaker Thom Tillis and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger sent out the following release this afternoon:

Raleigh, N.C. – Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger and House Speaker Thom Tillis on Wednesday responded to questions about changes to federal unemployment benefits.

The state budget approved in June extended long-term unemployment benefits in North Carolina until the federal deadline of Dec. 31, 2011. But the U.S. Congress recently extended those benefits for an extra two months, requiring a change in state unemployment law to comply with the new federal law.

Below is a joint statement from Berger (R-Rockingham) and Tillis (R-Mecklenburg):

“The General Assembly is ready to work with Gov. Perdue to resolve this issue. If Gov. Perdue believes an immediate fix is required, then we encourage her to take the appropriate action and call the General Assembly back for a special session.”

One senior legislative aid said that the Republicans really were trying to work cooperatively the governor on the issue. But given the recent midnight madness, there might be some unease on both side with the idea of calling the legislature back to town yet again. 

Update: Gov. Perdue sends word that no special session is needed. She has signed an executive order to take care of the problem. From a news release:

“Middle class families across North Carolina are working harder than ever, but many are still having a tough time. I signed an executive order today that will extend temporary benefits to approximately 25,000 unemployed North Carolinians. In addition to providing desperately needed financial help to the families that actually receive the benefits, these federal dollars will help all North Carolinians because the money will circulate throughout the economy and help support large and small businesses across the state. To be clear, we’re able to achieve these results with no impact on the state budget because all extended benefits resulting from this order will be paid with 100% federal money.”

Program Note: I'll be off for a few days. Blogging will resume next Wednesday.