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RALEIGH— Gov. Bev Perdue signed an executive order Friday clearing the way to extend Federal unemployment insurance benefits to 47,000 North Carolinians.

Many of the unemployed lost benefits in April when they ran out. Perdue and Republican legislative leaders have been at odds for weeks over the extension. An extension is included in a $19.7 billion state budget passed this week by the Senate and is expected to be approved by the House. But Perdue asked for a the passing of a separate bill to extend the benefits.

"I have tried to be team player and do the right stuff," said Perdue. "I'm over it. I gave them a chance. We wrote their bill. Ask them the question, 'why didn't they do what we've asked them to do?' Not once, but three or four times. Send me a clean bill and restore these benefits to those who deserve them."

Republican leaders struck back.

"I do know that incompetence was involved and it's either involved in one of two ways," said House Speaker Thom Tillis. "If the governor actually does have the statutory authority to execute that executive order, than where in the world has she been for the last seven weeks? And if the governor doesn't have that executive authority then why is she trying to break the law?"

The extension of unemployment benefits for the unemployed costs the state of North Carolina nothing. The benefits are paid for entirely with federal funds. Republican leaders are holding a news conference later Friday to respond to Gov Perdue's extension.