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RALEIGH -- State lawmakers chose not to vote on expanding gaming rights for the Eastern Band of Cherokee this week, but say Gov. Bev Perdue should call them back for a special session.

"I'm very, very disappointed with the General Assembly,” Perdue said.

In fact, there has been no lack of fingers pointing between the executive and legislative branches as to why the proposal to expand gaming rights for the Eastern Band of Cherokee in western North Carolina was not completed this week.

“I don't think its reasonable to expect that the General Assembly would either improve it or reject it based on the amount of time we've had to look at it,” says Sen. Phil Berger, the Republican president pro-tem.

Lawmakers, who need to sign off on allowing class three gambling, which includes live table gaming, say the deal between the governor and the tribe came too late to act this week. When asked about it on Tuesday, Perdue said they did the best that they could.

“My team and the Cherokees worked all weekend, five straight days and nights," she said. "We delivered the compact to them yesterday [Monday].”

Legislative leaders say there is a way to get this done sooner rather than later.

“We've made it clear to the governor in communications that if she were to call us back, we would not object to a special session to consider the compact,” said Rep. Thom Tillis, the speaker of the House.

A special session does not guarantee an approval, but both chamber leaders believe the votes are there. A special session of the General Assembly can be called by either the governor or the General Assembly itself.