Economy
Republican lawmakers haven’t been able to come to an agreement on a final state budget, North Carolina’s Savings Reserve Fund (i.e. the state’s rainy day fund), has not been replenished. The fund is down 30% from its peak, which is as important as ever given the hesitance of the Trump administration to deliver on recovery funding requests.
The MAGA budget slashes SNAP, the food assistance program that helps feed over 600,000 children in our state. It cuts Medicaid and CHIP, the health insurance programs that serve over 1.4 million NC kids. It even cuts funding for public schools– schools that are struggling to get by.
Amidst the battle between two of the world’s biggest egos, we don’t want to lose sight of who will truly be bearing the brunt of this 1,100 page bill– you.
There’s a government agency with the sole purpose of advocating for consumers, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. They aren’t flashy. They don’t have a catchy name. But wow, do they deliver results for everyday people. And President Trump is trying to shutter it completely, calling it a “woke, weaponized” agency. Thom Tillis agrees, claiming that the CFPB is “pushing beyond its regulatory and jurisdictional boundaries.”
North Carolina would certainly feel MAGA’s Medicaid cuts, but layering SNAP cuts on top of it would be a devastating 1-2 punch to working class families who are already struggling to make ends meet.
The only thing more excruciating than Trump’s tariff policy has been Senator Thom Tillis’ weak response as the president intentionally turns the global economy into a raging dumpster fire.
Contrary to Trump’s view, trade wars involve very real, very painful consequences for everyday people. And while we’re currently the ones left paying the price, MAGA Republicans should know that we’ll remember this pain when we’re at the ballot box next November.
The theme of Stein’s State of the State address was “North Carolina Strong,” a motto Stein has used to rally North Carolinians who are in the midst of a hurricane rebuild, rising costs, and a chaotic presidential administration.
Stein contrasted the divisive national political scene with a more hopeful, bipartisan vision for North Carolina. He centered everyday people in each policy proposal and every argument. He even showcased his sense of humor while taking a shot or two at Elon Musk.
Amidst the stream of legislative proposals are also some progressive gems– legislation proposed by Democrats who are still trying to support working class families, rural communities, and the environment. These bills don’t get as much attention, but they provide us with an idea of how Democrats are crafting a countervision for North Carolina.
The first week of Trump’s second term has been a storm of absurd statements and dangerous policies. We’ll highlight some of the most significant actions Trump took this week, and the impact they could have on North Carolina moving forward. Attempting to Restrict Birthright Citizenship Hours after swearing to protect the Constitution, Trump attempted to…