RALEIGH — During the just-completed primary campaigns for North Carolina General Assembly, you may have heard one or more candidates say that state government is currently operating without a budget. That is not, strictly speaking, true.
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NC Speaker's Office Responds to Governor's Latest Budget Requests
Raleigh, NC — Today, North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall's Office responded to Governor Josh Stein’s latest budget requests.
Peter J. Pitts: North Carolina Gives Non-profit Hospitals Billions in Tax Breaks. Are Patients Getting Anything in Return?
North Carolina’s non-profit hospitals occupy a privileged position in the state’s healthcare system. In exchange for their charitable mission, they receive sweeping tax advantages including exemptions from federal, state, and local taxes, access to tax-exempt financing, and eligibility for tax-deductible donations. These benefits are not symbolic. They represent a substantial public investment.
Budd, Warnock Introduce Bill to Create Task Force to Reform the Deployment of Federal Disaster Aid
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Reverend Raphael Warnock (R-Ga.) introduced the bipartisan Disaster Recovery Improvement Act this week to establish the Disaster Recovery Improvement Task Force.
Leader Reives Statement on Election Oversight
“As election workers across the state continue their work ensuring that voters have their ballots accurately counted, North Carolinians need to be able to trust the process is unfolding without any partisan interference.
State Auditor Announces Replacement of State Board of Elections Member
RALEIGH, N.C. — State Auditor Dave Boliek has announced that Angela Hawkins will replace Bob Rucho on the North Carolina State Board of Elections. Bob Rucho informed State Auditor Boliek of his resignation this morning.
Budd, Coons Lead Bipartisan Coalition to Reauthorize the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) lead a bipartisan coalition including Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in introducing legislation to reauthorize the independent, bipartisan United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today. The bipartisan bill would ensure the commission, set to expire on September 30, 2026, can continue its work to monitor religious freedom around the world.
Leader Reives Statement on Primary Election
Tonight, North Carolinians in communities across the state made their voices heard at the ballot box. This midterm election in November has profound implications for the direction of North Carolina and our country.
John Hood: State shouldn’t rest on its laurels
Over the most-recent 12-month period, North Carolina’s economy expanded by an inflation-adjusted 3%. Among the 50 states, only South Carolina (3.5%) posted a significantly faster growth rate. North Carolina also continues to top CNBC’s ranking of the best states for business.
Page leads Berger by two votes in Senate District 26 GOP primary
Republican voters in North Carolina Senate District 26 produced a razor-thin result in Tuesday’s primary between Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger and Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page.
Attorney General Jeff Jackson Reaches $100 Million Multistate Settlement with Walmart for Deceiving Drivers and Customers Over Delivery
RALEIGH – Attorney General Jeff Jackson and a bipartisan group of attorneys general, along with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), reached a $100 million multistate settlement with Walmart over allegations that the company deceived customers and drivers who participated in its Spark Driver Program. Walmart will pay drivers in North Carolina approximately $2 million that they lost because of Walmart’s alleged actions.
John Hood: New Construction Moderates Home Prices
RALEIGH — State and local leaders say they want to lower the cost of living for most North Carolinians. In many cases, however, their actions don’t match their words.
Budd Announces Tens-of-Millions of FEMA Funding for North Carolina, Including Long Awaited Funding for Helene, COVID-19 Pandemic
Ted Budd (R-N.C.) released the following statement after President Trump and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Noem approved more than $165.9 million in funding to North Carolina for Public Assistance (PA) grant projects to reimburse incurred costs from the COVID-19 Pandemic and for disaster recovery following Hurricane Helene
Senator Berger to Introduce 12-month Property Tax Revaluation Moratorium
Raleigh, N.C. — Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) announced today that he intends to file a bill during the legislature's "short session" in April to halt all property tax revaluation changes for 12 months to ensure the legislature can examine and adopt needed property tax reforms. This action will pause any proposed property value adjustments prompted by a county property tax revaluation.
Budd Introduces Bill to Help Expand Access to Downpayment Assistance, Increase Grant Limits to Help Build More Affordable Homes
U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) introduced legislation today to expand and modernize eligibility requirements for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program.
John Hood: Ruling Could Lighten Carolinians’ Load
RALEIGH — Last week, when the U.S. Supreme Court released its long-awaited ruling in the “emergency tariff” case, President Donald Trump called the decision “ridiculous,” its reasoning “stupid,” and the justices who wrote or supported it “fools,” “lapdogs,” and the agents of nefarious foreign powers.
Justice Anita Earls on President Trump’s State of the Union Address
Durham, NC – After she attended President Trump’s State of the Union address last night as Congresswoman Deborah Ross’ guest, Justice Anita Earls released the following statement:
Sen. Budd, Rep. Miller Lead Bill to Close Loophole Exploited by Illegal Aliens Employed as Police Officers
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and U.S. Representative Mary Miller (R-Ill.-15) led several of their Republican colleagues in introducing the bicameral Stop Illegal Alien Cops Act today. The legislation is aimed at prohibiting illegal aliens who work as armed law enforcement officers from possessing firearms or ammunition provided to them by a government entity, such as a police department. This bill aligns with existing federal law that already prohibits illegal aliens from possessing firearms or ammunition in the United States.
John Hood: Carolinians Thwarted Britain’s Southern Gambit
RALEIGH — During the first few months of America’s war for independence, the British redcoats occupying the rebellious city of Boston won one major battle (for Bunker Hill and nearby Breed’s Hill, on June 17, 1775) as well as several minor skirmishes. But the Continental Army, under its new commander George Washington, kept the occupiers bottled up in the city. If the Americans ever managed to place cannons onto the heights overlooking the harbor, the British authorities realized, their position in Boston would become untenable.
John Hood: Demographic Challenge Isn’t Going Away
RALEIGH — North Carolina’s economy just posted a sizzling 5.6% growth rate. Since 2020, average income per North Carolinian rose faster than the national and regional averages. And our headline unemployment rate in December was 3.9% — quite low by historical standards.