Sen. Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) today announced the departure of his chief of staff, Brian Fork.
All in State Government
For Fifth Year in a Row, North Carolina Ranks in Top Three States to Do Business
CNBC named North Carolina as second best state to do business and in the top three for the fifth year in a row thanks to our well-trained and diverse workforce, booming economy, and strong business environment. In 2019, North Carolina ranked third; in 2021, the state ranked second; and in both 2022 and 2023 North Carolina ranked first.
Governor Cooper Signs Twelve Bills, Vetoes One Bill and Lets One Bill Become Law
Governor Roy Cooper signed the following bills into law:
Op-Ed: North Carolina is Leading on Clean Energy
With nearly $22 billion of clean energy investments unveiled across North Carolina, 2024 marks a significant milestone in the state’s energy leadership.
Speaker Moore Comments on Partisan Actions of NCSBE
Speaker Moore comments on the State Board of Elections’ partisan refusal to approve third party ballot access:
Folwell responds to state health plan victory over Blue Cross NC
From the beginning, it has been clear that the State Health Plan (Plan) performed a well-reasoned, high-integrity, and correct procurement process for third-party administrative services. This process clearly revealed that Aetna’s bid was superior to Blue Cross NC’s, and the Plan’s Board of Trustees properly approved the contract’s award to Aetna. As Judge Melissa Owens Lassiter said in her opinion:
NC Legislative Economic Development Caucus Announces Formation of Manufacturing Study Committee and Files German Friendship Resolution
As the North Carolina Legislative Caucus on Economic Development and Foreign Trade (“EDFT Caucus”) wraps up its first year in the General Assembly, co-chairs Representative John Bell (R – Wayne) and Representative Robert Reives (D – Chatham, Randolph) round out a successful and productive year with two key initiatives, creating a study committee to examine ways the legislature can foster manufacturing growth in the state, and filing a resolution in the House encouraging Congress to work more closely on economic and trade issues with Germany, one of the leading sources of capital investment and trade in North Carolina.
Governor Cooper Signs Four Bills and Vetoes Two Bills
Governor Roy Cooper signed the following bills into law:
North Carolina's May County and Area Unemployment Figures Released
Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 95 of North Carolina’s counties in May 2024, decreased in four, and remained unchanged in one. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 6.0 percent while Buncombe and Currituck Counties each had the lowest at 2.8 percent.
Governor Cooper Joins US Department of Transportation Secretary Buttigieg for First S-Line Project Groundbreaking and Blue Ridge Road Construction Site Visit
Governor Roy Cooper joined US Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in Raleigh for the first groundbreaking of the S-Line Project, the major infrastructure project that will revitalize the Southeast Corridor of passenger rail, and a visit to the Blue Ridge Road construction site, a project that will improve traffic flow, access, and efficiency along the Raleigh Beltline.
Governor Cooper Takes Action to Lessen the Burden of Medical Debt for North Carolinians
RALEIGH: North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and the NC Department of Health and Human Services announced new actions leveraging the state’s Medicaid program that will encourage hospitals to relieve a potential $4 billion in existing medical debt for approximately two million low and middle-income North Carolinians and ease the burden of medical debt in the future.
Op-Ed: Now is not the time to disrupt America’s retirement savings
Inflation has left many North Carolinian families to make difficult short-term spending decisions, but what about long-term financial planning, like retirement?
John Hood: Carolina Dispute Helped Provoke Revolution
RALEIGH — As we once again celebrate our country’s birthday, might I suggest we spare a moment to consider our state’s role in the dramatic story of American independence?
Governor Cooper Signs Two Bills Into Law
Governor Roy Cooper signed the following bills into law:
Governor Cooper Signs Five Bills Into Law
Governor Roy Cooper signed the following bills into law:
Folwell responds to the Governor’s Proposal to Lessen the Burden of Medical Debt
Statement from Treasurer Folwell:
Senate Overrides Three More of Gov. Cooper's Vetoes
Republicans in the North Carolina Senate overrode three of Gov. Roy Cooper’s vetoes. The General Assembly has successfully overridden all 22 of Gov. Cooper's vetoes this biennium.
Senate Approves Citizen-only Voting Amendment for 2024 Ballots
Republicans in the North Carolina Senate voted to put one constitutional amendment on 2024 general election ballots, and passed two additional constitutional amendments for consideration.
State prisons prepared for extreme temperatures; Crews making progress installing air-conditioning
As temperatures climb into the high 90s this summer, the N.C. Department of Adult Correction has taken measures to ensure the safety of people incarcerated in state prisons and the staff that supervise them.
John Hood: Our Economy Is Always Churning
RALEIGH — North Carolina’s private sector lost an eye-popping 414,000 jobs in the most-recent quarter tracked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Are we on the brink of economic cataclysm? Should you buy gold and head for the hills?