The “2023 Appropriations Act” passed its second reading in the North Carolina Senate. A final procedural vote will be held on Friday before the state budget goes to Gov. Roy Cooper for his consideration.
Lawmakers Complete Budget, Prioritize State’s Most Pressing Needs
Legislative leaders released the finalized “2023 Appropriations Act,” continuing a decade of success in North Carolina through thoughtful spending and keeping government growth in check.
Ranking Member Foushee Opening Remarks for SST Investigations & Oversight Hearing on CEQ’s Proposed Regulatory Hurdle
Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee, delivered the following opening remarks at the Subcommittee Hearing titled, A Bar Too High: Concerns with CEQ’s Proposed Regulatory Hurdle for Federal Contracting. You can watch the hearing here.
House Democrats Call on Leadership to Advance Appropriations Bills Free of Poison Pill Riders
Representatives Deborah Ross (NC-02), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Terri Sewell (AL-07), and Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) led 139 House Democrats in a letter to House and Appropriations Committee leadership requesting that they advance responsible appropriations legislation free of poison pill provisions and adequately fund non-defense discretionary programs at the caps agreed to in the bipartisan debt ceiling package.
Drug prevention bill passes House, on its way to governor for signature
On Tuesday, the North Carolina General Assembly ratified legislation to curb abuse of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is up to 100 times stronger than morphine and has emerged as a deadly force in the ongoing battle against drug overdose.
Legislators will vote on a state budget with Medicaid expansion and without casinos
The Republicans’ Frankenstein experiment that sutured promised Medicaid expansion in North Carolina to expanded legal gambling has failed.
Senate leader folds his hand. Casinos will not be part of the North Carolina budget
Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) rarely loses a hand in the political games that play such a prominent role in the work of North Carolina General Assembly.
John Hood: Residents Flock to Country’s Freest Cities
Charlotte and Raleigh certainly have their problems — as discussed regularly in, among other places, this very spot on the opinion page! But as someone who grew up near Charlotte and now lives near Raleigh, I will also say there’s still more going right than going wrong in our state’s two most-populous communities.
North Carolina's August Employment Figures Released
The state’s seasonally adjusted August 2023 unemployment rate was 3.3 percent, unchanged from July’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.3 of a percentage point to 3.8 percent.
Gov. Cooper Statement on Republican Plan to Tie Backroom Casino Bill to Medicaid Expansion
RALEIGH: Governor Roy Cooper issued the following statement on the Republican supermajority's plan to tie Medicaid Expansion to their controversial, backroom casino plan:
Protect Working Musicians Act Aims to Secure Fair Deals for Artists
Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) introduced the Protect Working Musicians Act of 2023. This legislation will give small independent artists and music creators the power to collectively negotiate with both streaming platforms and generative artificial intelligence (AI) developers for fair compensation.
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.
John Hood: Freedom Fosters a Culture of Giving
When natural disasters or other emergencies hit our state, North Carolinians respond in droves — and I’m not just referring to the crucial and praiseworthy work of public employees who work in emergency management, public safety, and public works.
How much influence should college students have over local elections?
In the waning days of the 2023 legislative session, there seems to be no shortage of ideas of how to reshape North Carolina’s elections. From ballot signature verification to giving the General Assembly appointment power to the State Board of Elections, Republican legislators maintain their changes will instill voter confidence in the system.
Governor Cooper Signs Two Bills Into Law: SB 429 and SB 218
Governor Roy Cooper signed the following bills into law:
John Hood: State Tax Reforms Foster Manufacturing
Site Selection just released its latest “Best States for Manufacturing” report. North Carolina ranked second in the nation in 2023, behind only South Carolina.
Governor Cooper Directs $8 Million to NC Pre-K Classrooms
Governor Roy Cooper is directing $8 million in federal funding to provide a one-time special allocation to all NC Pre-K classrooms to help address classroom needs for the new school year. The NC Pre-K Program operates in every county statewide to provide high-quality early childhood education for eligible children.
Robinson's lead undisputed, but newcomer Thomas gains momentum
On Thursday, polling results from Capen Analytics shed new light on the upcoming Republican gubernatorial primary election. The data reveals an intriguing development in the race, with political newcomer Jesse Thomas gaining notable traction among likely Republican primary voters.
Murphy Introduces Legislation to Extend Veterans Affairs Services
Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. introduced H.R. 5377, a bill to extend authorities of the Department of Veterans Affairs to continue providing essential services.
Op Ed: Trump Jr. Is Right, NC Shouldn’t Gamble Away Its Republican Majority
In American politics, there are no permanent majorities. But some strategies usually pay off. One of them is keeping your word, and nearly every Republican in the North Carolina House and Senate promised to enact pro-family policies when they ran for office.