Logan Smith
GOP budget standoff continues with lawmakers returning to Raleigh, as yet another red state expands Medicaid RALEIGH — North Carolina lawmakers are returning to Raleigh this week for a so-called “mini-session” amidst the budget standoff which legislative Republicans have been waging since last summer. Although the legislature’s paltry pay plan for state educators is expected to be…
Read MoreThe North Carolina General Assembly convenes on Tuesday for a so-called “mini-session” amidst the budget standoff waged by legislative Republicans since last summer. From North Carolina Health News: “We have not set a date and honestly we’re waiting like everyone else to see what the legislature” does this week, said Dave Richard, the N.C. Department of Health…
Read MoreGeneral Assembly to blame for the strain which $8 billion in “deferred maintenance costs” has put on North Carolina teachers and students RALEIGH — Progress NC Action released the following statement on Wednesday in response to the Leandro report which shows that North Carolina’s current education system fails to meet the needs of many children, and recommends…
Read MoreCould it be? Is our long statewide nightmare over gerrymandered political maps finally over? Well… not quite yet. The 2020 legislative maps appear to be final after the State Supreme Court declined last week to take up yet another legal challenge. However, we’re still waiting to find out whether the newly-passed congressional maps will pass a court…
Read MoreA North Carolina Republican lawmaker doing something unethical? Say it ain’t so! Senate leader Phil Berger continues to face statewide criticism for using campaign cash to pay the mortgage on his Raleigh townhome. Berger claims the State Board of Elections has twice approved the mortgage payments, but that doesn’t make it okay for Berger to…
Read MoreThe health disparity between rural and urban communities across the United States is growing, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In North Carolina, this is made even worse by Republican lawmakers’ refusal to consider expanding Medicaid. About 40 percent of North Carolinians — approximately 4 million people — live in one…
Read MoreAt long last, North Carolina is no longer the only state in the country where a woman cannot revoke consent to have sex once sex has begun. After years of NCGA leaders killing bills to update North Carolina’s sexual assault laws, the legislation finally made it to Gov. Cooper’s desk last week. Before this law was passed, if…
Read MoreInstead of negotiating with Democrats on a budget that works for everyone, Republican leaders decided to adjourn last week and leave Raleigh. Although lawmakers plan to return next week to take up the latest round of court-ordered redistricting, under the adjournment resolution they will not take up budget issues again until January. Before leaving town, Republicans…
Read MoreGOP-controlled legislature leaves Raleigh without passing a full state budget RALEIGH — Progress NC Action released the following statement on Thursday in response to the Senate leaving Raleigh without passing a full state budget: “State lawmakers are leaving Raleigh on Halloween — 123 days into the not-so-new budget year — without passing a full state…
Read MoreLacking the votes to override Cooper’s veto, Republicans continue to play games instead of governing RALEIGH — Progress NC Action released the following statement on Tuesday in response to Senate leader Phil Berger’s failure — once again — to hold a vote on Gov. Cooper’s veto of the Republican budget proposal: “How long are Republican…
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