http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2009/02/20/news/state/z516207d782a4e52988257563000a062e.txt Both houses of the Legislature got the bare minimum of votes to reach the two-thirds requirement needed to pass the package, which includes $12.8 billion in tax hikes, $15.1 billion in cuts, billions in borrowing and measures intended to stimulate the state's economy. In exchange, he won major concessions from Democrats and the governor. Maldonado was able to strip out a 12-cent-a-gallon gas tax from an earlier version of the package and have two measures placed on a future ballot: One seeks fully open primary elections and another would freeze lawmakers' pay when the state runs a deficit. He also got $1 million for office furniture in the controller's office deleted.