Health Care

FDA must fast track insulin for the millions of Americans living with diabetes

By Eleanore Wood / October 24, 2019 / Comments Off on FDA must fast track insulin for the millions of Americans living with diabetes

Did You Know? Three Canadian researchers discovered insulin almost a century ago and sold the patent for $1 so the world could access this life-saving medicine for diabetics. Today just three big Pharma companies control the U.S. market for insulin. Result? The price of insulin has gone up 900% in the last 18 years Op…

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Will lawmakers leave town for the year before resolving budget standoff?

By Logan Smith / October 22, 2019 / Comments Off on Will lawmakers leave town for the year before resolving budget standoff?

The budget standoff has dragged past its 100th day, and although lawmakers are back in session this week, don’t expect a resolution before the state Senate adjourns for the year at the end of the month. On the other hand, don’t put it past Phil Berger to try to sneak a budget veto override through…

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Berger promises at least 24 hours’ notice on override — for whatever that’s worth

By Logan Smith / October 4, 2019 / Comments Off on Berger promises at least 24 hours’ notice on override — for whatever that’s worth

Sen. Phil Berger has promised that Senate Republicans will not repeat the budget ambush vote orchestrated by Speaker Tim Moore in the House last month — though Berger has a track record of dishonesty that should give pause to anyone who does not believe the word “gullible” is written on the ceiling. Republican leaders claim they merely…

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How you can help end the GOP budget standoff

By Eleanore Wood / September 11, 2019 / Comments Off on How you can help end the GOP budget standoff

The Republican-created budget standoff is in its third month now as the GOP majority refuses to either hold an override vote on Gov. Roy Cooper’s budget veto, or negotiate with the governor for a budget that works for everyone.  THE PROBLEM RIGHT NOW: The state budget is more than two months late. North Carolina’s public…

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GOP budget standoff drags through its second month

By Eleanore Wood / August 20, 2019 / Comments Off on GOP budget standoff drags through its second month

The cost of GOP budget inaction is about $42,000 per day, or about a million dollars and counting. Legislative Republicans can either hold an override vote or return to the negotiating table, but instead, they’re doing neither while pointing fingers at the governor. Enough House Democrats have pledged to sustain Gov. Cooper’s budget veto that Republicans have…

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

By Eleanore Wood / August 13, 2019 / Comments Off on 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…

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Progressives slam Brockman at budget town hall in High Point

By Logan Smith / August 6, 2019 / Comments Off on Progressives slam Brockman at budget town hall in High Point

Last week, Progress NC and a number of other organizations including the Guilford Co. Association of Educators, the NC Black Alliance, and Indivisible Guilford County, held a budget town hall in High Point with local lawmakers. Sen. Michael Garrett, Rep. Amos Quick, and Rep. Ashton Clemmons all promised to stand up for public schools by…

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GOP may try to ram their budget through the General Assembly this week

By Eleanore Wood / July 25, 2019 / Comments Off on GOP may try to ram their budget through the General Assembly this week

With GOP leadership telling their caucus to expect budget votes this week, Republican lawmakers are once again trying to ram through a budget which does not address the concerns of hard-working North Carolina families or our valued educators. Instead of expanding Medicaid and investing in our schools and our students, the politicians are trying to…

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Berger leaves the country as GOP leaders refuse to negotiate budget standoff

By Eleanore Wood / July 18, 2019 / Comments Off on Berger leaves the country as GOP leaders refuse to negotiate budget standoff

North Carolina’s budget standoff continues into its third week as NC Republicans refuse to negotiate with Gov. Cooper or legislative Democrats. As of Monday, July 22nd, Gov. Cooper presented GOP leaders with a counter-offer 14 days ago. GOP response?  Zippo. Republicans won’t even come to the table. Instead of working with the governor to agree…

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Do not buy into the NC-GOP’s false choice of an “either / or” state budget

By Eleanore Wood / July 16, 2019 / Comments Off on Do not buy into the NC-GOP’s false choice of an “either / or” state budget

North Carolina has the revenue and resources for a state budget that fully funds public education, expands Medicaid, and invests in critical local projects across the state. Republicans claim the state budget can either include local projects earmarked for legislative districts across the state, or the state budget can expand Medicaid. This is a ridiculous false…

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