Gov. Josh Stein calls on GOP to focus on real issues, work with him on Helene recovery, education and more
Gov. Josh Stein didn’t let an incoming winter storm stop him from making his inaugural speech to tell North Carolinians about his vision for the state’s future earlier this month.
The wintry weather canceled most of the inaugural festivities, forcing Stein to speak inside the old state Capitol building in downtown Raleigh instead of outside in front of thousands of supporters.
In his televised speech, Stein called on Republicans to step up to the plate and make a genuine effort to work with him on several of the most pressing issues facing our state. He specifically mentioned Hurricane Helene recovery in western North Carolina, teacher pay and education funding, and fighting fentanyl abuse.
“We must overcome the unprecedented storm that ravaged our state and the everyday struggles that impact our neighbors,” Stein said. “And we will.”
The governor said he intends to work with the Republican-controlled legislature to address these issues and invited them to work with him. In November’s election, voters rejected the GOP’s far-right policies and broke their veto-proof supermajority in the legislature, so Republicans no longer have un-checkable power.
“To the members of the General Assembly I say, let’s work together,” Stein said. “We have real problems to solve, and we do not have time to settle petty political scores or fight divisive culture wars. I want to stand with you as we fight for our people, not with each other. No party has all the answers. Good ideas do not come with party labels.”
Stein’s speech outlined the five executive orders on the state government’s response to Helene that he signed as his first official act as governor. The orders are intended to speed up the recovery process in western North Carolina.
Stein issued another executive order on Thursday afternoon, this time protecting access to birth control, abortion and reproductive health care for all women in North Carolina.
State agencies must not cooperate with any potential efforts to restrict access to birth control in North Carolina, and they cannot help investigate doctors who provide legal abortions or other reproductive health care, he declared Thursday in his latest executive order.
