North Carolina Democrats Demand an End to Political Gamesmanship
On March 23rd, Republican leadership joined Democrats at the Governor’s mansion to celebrate the long overdue passage of Medicaid expansion—promising to (finally) deliver access to affordable healthcare to 600,000 North Carolinians upon the adoption of a state budget.
Seven months later, Republicans have broken that promise by refusing to pass a state budget. They are cynically using health care as a political bargaining chip to force passage of a casino bill developed in secret and written by casino lobbyists. It gives one company a monopoly and no opportunity for local citizens to vote on whether they want a casino.
Republican leaders are gambling with our healthcare and our future.
At the same time, we are now 78 days into the fiscal year and we do not have a budget. That means our families and our communities don’t have the support they need to increase public safety. That means our children do not have the teachers, nurses and bus drivers needed to help them learn. It means our hardworking state employees don’t have the raises needed to keep pace with inflation.
Enough is enough. We the undersigned members of the House Democratic Caucus reject this kind of politics. We are writing this letter to let Republican leadership—and the public—know we will not be bullied into blindly supporting this bill.
It’s time to stop playing politics with people’s lives.
To date Republican leadership has not engaged in good faith negotiations with our leadership. If that changes, we stand ready to pass a budget that meets the needs of North Carolinians.
Sincerely,
Leader Robert T. Reives, II
Deputy Leader Ashton Wheeler Clemmons
Rep. Eric Ager
Rep. Vernetta Alston
Rep. John Autry
Rep. Cynthia Ball
Rep. Amber M. Baker
Rep. Mary Belk
Rep. Gloristine Brown
Rep. Kanika Brown
Rep. Terry M. Brown, Jr.
Rep. Allen Buansi
Rep. Laura Budd
Rep. Deb Butler
Rep. Becky Carney
Rep. Maria Cervania
Rep. Sarah Crawford
Rep. Allison A. Dahle
Rep. Terence Everitt
Rep. Rosa U. Gill
Rep. Wesley Harris
Rep. Pricey Harrison
Rep. Zack Hawkins
Rep. Frances Jackson
Rep. Joe John
Rep. Abe Jones
Rep. Ya Liu
Rep. Brandon Lofton
Rep. Carolyn G. Logan
Rep. Tim Longest
Rep. Nasif Majeed
Rep. Marcia Morey
Rep. Lindsey Prather
Rep. Renee A. Price
Rep. Amos L. Quick, III
Rep. James Roberson
Rep. Caleb Rudow
Rep. Charles Smith
Rep. Diamond Staton-Williams
Rep. Julie von Haefen
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