NC House Dems to GOP leaders: You don’t have the votes for budget override

Summer is almost over, and in a couple of weeks, kids will head back to school. But our state budget still hangs in limbo as Republicans continue to refuse to negotiate. 

Last week, House Democrats published a pledge to sustain Gov. Cooper’s budget veto which was signed by 51 of 55 House Democrats — all but Reps. Cecil Brockman, Elmer Floyd, Charles Graham, and Billy Richardson.

The pledge means Republicans have no way to override Cooper’s veto and have no choice but to return to the negotiating table. But they’re not doing that.

• School districts are being forced to set their fall budgets without a clear idea of how much money they will get from the state. Teachers are being forced to buy classroom supplies without the pay raises they were promised.
• The GOP budget standoff is making things even harder for our already-struggling public schools. GOP leaders need to stop stalling and start negotiating.
• It has been five weeks since Gov. Cooper sent a compromise budget proposal to GOP leaders, but Republicans are sticking their fingers in their ears and pretending it doesn’t exist. This is not a party that is serious about governing.

Lawmakers must get to the business of negotiating a budget that helps all citizens, not just large corporations.