Tuesday at the North Carolina General Assembly

— Amusement machine owners say they want video poker machines legalized again

— Throwing the wind to caution: Senate panel sidesteps mountain wind turbine regulations

— Senate panel OK's limit on lawsuits jilted spouses file against interloping lover

— NC eminent domain change to state constitution returned to judiciary committee

— Bill directs sterilization program in public school curriculum, requires interviews

PERDUE SPEAKS UP: Gov. Beverly Perdue tried Tuesday to loosen a knot in the state budget negotiations by offering her own $1.6 billion tax plan that's larger than the $1 billion House or Senate Democrats have proposed. She said neither is enough to protect education and other vital services. Her menu of tax options would raise the sales tax most consumers pay from 6.75 percent to 7.75 percent for one year and place an emergency surcharge on the highest wage earners for two years. But permanent sales and income tax rates ultimately would be lowered and services subject to the sales tax expanded. Perdue's plan also would raise cigarette taxes by 50 cents per pack and increase alcohol taxes.

LEGISLATORS SPEAK OUT: Key House and Senate negotiators on the tax package say their chambers may be hard pressed to accept a tax increase above $1 billion this year. They still don't believe there are enough votes to raise the amount of additional taxes that Perdue wants. The idea of "temporary" tax increases are sure to give Democrats pause. The Democratic-led Legislature agreed to raise sales and income taxes for two years in 2001 to cope with the most recent recession. But lawmakers didn't take the income tax portion off the books until 2007, and a quarter-cent increase on the sales tax became permanent. Republicans kept pushing for a solution Tuesday that would include more targeted spending cuts and no new revenues.

LET IT ROLL: Arcade machine owners who want to return to the video poker business say they want to remove the cloud hanging over the games. A House judiciary committee heard about a bill to legalize video gambling terminals again and give the state 20 percent of the profits. The Legislature banned the machines in July 2007, but there has been a series of legal rulings that threaten to invalidate the ban. Video poker had been tainted because one of its biggest supporters was then-House Speaker Jim Black. He is in federal prison after pleading guilty to a corruption count unrelated to video poker. No vote was taken. There's not much support from leaders in the House and Senate.

LOST WIND: Senators looking at how to balance the demand for green energy with environmental protection and tourism have endorsed a bill that sidesteps regulating wind turbines on mountain ridges. A Senate committee approved regulations for where wind turbines can be built, but only along the coast. Bill sponsor Sen. Charlie Albertson, D-Duplin, said a dispute between tourism interests, mountain-district senators, and green-power advocates means a system for western North Carolina will be added later. The proposed law would require a permit to build wind farms. They could be blocked if they have a negative effect on navigation, wildlife, or the views from any state or national park.

SPOUSAL REVENGE: A Senate committee has backed limits to a law that allows scorned spouses to sue and collect damages for stolen affection and adultery. A Senate judiciary committee recommended a bill barring lawsuits for amorous acts after a married couple separated, and puts a three-year time limit on the lawsuits. Jilted spouses also could not sue a business. North Carolina is one of only about a half dozen states that still allow a spouse to sue their wayward partner's lover for stolen affection. Sen. Daniel Clodfelter, D-Mecklenburg, said North Carolina is the only state that allows lawsuits over a spouse's adultery. Senators said the lawsuits are primarily filed by revenge-seeking spouses of wealthy people.

EMINENT DOMAIN: The House sent back to committee a bill that would let voters decide whether to bar government from condemning private property for economic development The House voted 60-56 on Tuesday to re-refer the measure to a judiciary panel for further discussion and work out some pending amendments. The bill seeks to ensure government can only condemn private property for a public use. The amendment is in response to a 2005 U.S. Supreme Court decision. The amendment also would emboss in the constitution the right of a landowner whose land is condemned to receive a jury trial to determine what is just compensation. A similar proposed amendment was approved by a wide margin in the House in 2007 but died in the Senate.