NC pulls out stops for inauguration, other states scale back

The new governor of Delaware has cancelled his inaugural ball because the state is facing a budget of more than five-hundred million dollars. Missouri's got a deficit, too, so its new governor is holding the first-ever inauguration potluck. North Carolina is in a similar budget situation, but Governor-elect Bev Perdue is sticking with tradition for her inaugural celebration. Event co-chair Virginia Parker says scaling back wasn't a consideration: "We did not have those conversations," says Parker. "I think we both went into it wanting to do the tradition that we have been doing since 1933." The three-days of inauguration festivities will include a fancy ball, a rock concert and numerous receptions - all paid for by the Junior League of Raleigh. Parker says proceeds from those events will benefit the Junior League's Center for Community Leadership, which is another reason they opted not to scale back the celebrations. Beverly Perdue will be sworn-in as North Carolina's first female governor on January 10th.