RALEIGH — Because I’m a fiscal conservative, you might think I reflexively oppose government borrowing. You’d be mistaken. I believe that public finance and toxicology share a common rule: the dose makes the poison.
All in State Government
NC’s 1 million ACA enrollees set to see higher health care costs in 2026
Open enrollment starts Nov. 1. Higher premiums and expiring tax credits could combine for spikes in costs.
Speaker Hall Statement on Rep. Brockman's Resignation
Raleigh, NC — North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall issued the following statement on the resignation of Rep. Cecil Brockman (D-Guilford):
Governor Stein Announces Nearly $18 Million in Contributions for North Carolina Food Assistance
(RALEIGH) Today Governor Josh Stein announced that the State of North Carolina will grant $10 million to local food banks across the state. The State is joined by AmeriHealth Caritas, which will give $5 million, The David & Nicole Tepper Foundation, which will accelerate $2.5 million from a previously announced $10 million gift, and other donors. These announcements come as food banks prepare for an influx of need following the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s decision to suspend the distribution of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November.
John Hood: North Carolina Still Isn’t Very Urban
RALEIGH — According to the latest count by the U.S. Census Bureau, North Carolina has added yet another metropolitan area. Has our state become an urban colossus?
Modernization to State Retiree System Scheduled to be Implemented in 2026
(Raleigh, N.C.) — The North Carolina Retirement Systems (NCRS) is modernizing and improving the user experience. Beginning in early 2026, the ORBIT member portal will launch a streamlined, single sign-on (SSO) login powered by ID.me — a trusted digital identity platform used by federal and state agencies nationwide.
Governor Stein, Secretary Lilley, EDPNC to Lead Multi-State Delegation at Southeast U.S./Japan Annual Meeting in Tokyo
(RALEIGH) This week, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein is leading the multi-state delegation at the Southeast United States (SEUS)/Japan Annual Joint Meeting in Tokyo, Japan. Governor Stein is joined by Department of Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley and EDPNC CEO Christopher Chung. The Governor will meet with Japanese business leaders and promote North Carolina as a top state for investment and partnership.
House Budget Gimmick Plunges State into Deficit Spending
Raleigh, N.C. – Last week, the N.C. House of Representatives forced the Senate to return four ineligible bills after nonpartisan staff attorneys determined they could not be considered under the General Assembly’s agreed-upon adjournment resolution. Beyond just being ineligible for consideration, the quartet of bills poses additional problems.
Attorney General Jeff Jackson Warns USDA Over Failure to Fund Food Assistance During Shutdown, Potentially Impacting Roughly 600,000 Children in North Carolina
RALEIGH – Today, Attorney General Jeff Jackson issued a formal warning to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) after the agency informed states that it may refuse to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the ongoing federal government shutdown. SNAP provides food assistance to low-income families, and any interruption would be devastating for North Carolina – 1.5 million people, including roughly 600,000 children, rely on it to eat.
John Hood: Technology Is Reshaping Policy and Politics
RALEIGH — Having spent nearly 40 years analyzing and writing about North Carolina politics and public policy, I often find myself placing today’s challenges and controversies into historical context.
NC House Huddle: New Congressional Map Approved
This week, the General Assembly passed a new congressional map, updating the boundaries of North Carolina’s 1st and 3rd districts. On Wednesday, House Majority Leader Brenden Jones delivered a floor speech calling out radical blue state Democrats—like California Gov. Gavin Newsom—for trying to tilt control of Congress in their favor and undermine President Trump’s America First agenda.
More Republican Dysfunction: Senate Refuses Receipt of House Bills
After wasting hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to rig congressional maps, the House passed a few bills that were dead on arrival in the Senate. But Senate leadership took the extraordinary step of outright refusing to accept the bills from the House because they were so outside the bounds of regular order.
Governor Stein Takes Action on One Bill
(RALEIGH) Today, Governor Stein announced he has signed one bill into law.
Senate Rules Chairman Returns Ineligible Bills to House
Raleigh, N.C. – This morning, the Senate Rules Chairman was forced to return four ineligible bills to the House of Representatives for violating the General Assembly's agreed-upon adjournment resolution for the October session. The Chairman’s ruling was confirmed by the Senate Principal Clerk’s Office and nonpartisan central staff attorneys.
As Governor Stein Plays Politics, House Protects Patients and Funds Medicaid
Raleigh, NC — As of this week, the North Carolina House of Representatives has passed three clean, stand-alone bills to fund the state’s Medicaid rebase and protect patients from Governor Josh Stein’s unnecessary, politically-motivated rate cuts. State health officials confirm that any of the three proposals would lead the administration to drop their cuts.
Governor Stein Announces More Than $25 Million in Grants to Promote Safer Roads
(RALEIGH) Today Governor Josh Stein announced that the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) has awarded more than $25 million to local and state efforts to promote transportation safety across the state.
NC House Passes Legislation to End Medicaid Funding for Planned Parenthood
Raleigh, NC — Today, the North Carolina House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 378, "Align Medicaid Eligibility with Federal Law," which prohibits Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood.
Senate Appropriations Chairmen Call on House to Concur with ‘Back the Blue Act’ and ‘Defund Planned Parenthood’ Bill
Raleigh, N.C. – Today, the House Rules Committee heard multiple ineligible bills under the General Assembly’s adjournment resolution, including a bill that would provide pay increases and bonuses for law enforcement officers and a proposal to ensure that no tax dollars would go to Planned Parenthood.
Senator Berger Statement on Newly Approved Congressional Map
Raleigh, N.C. – Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) released the following statement after the final vote on the new proposed Congressional map in the N.C. Senate:
Governor Stein, NCDHHS Announce More Than $6.5 Billion in Medical Debt Erased in North Carolina
Governor Josh Stein and NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai announced today that through North Carolina’s Medical Debt Relief Program, more than $6.5 billion in medical debt has been relieved for more than 2.5 million North Carolinians over the past year.