Gov. Cooper delivers his fourth State of the State address to NC lawmakers

Gov. Roy Cooper delivered his fourth State of the State address to a joint session of the General Assembly on Monday.

During the speech, which lasted nearly 40 minutes, Cooper addressed an audience that included lawmakers from the House and Senate, elected officials who serve on the Council of State, justices from the N.C. Supreme Court and judges from the Court of Appeals.

Cooper’s speech served as a highlight reel of his two terms in office and a message about what Democrats and Republicans will fight over this year.

A recorded response to the Democratic governor’s address by Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson followed his speech.

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8 p.m.: Robinson delivers GOP response

Responding to Cooper’s speech, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson said that Republicans were to thank for the state’s economic success, and that the “commonsense” economic policies the GOP-controlled legislature has enacted have “turned a state that was billions of dollars in debt and struggling financially into an economic powerhouse.”

“While we’ve seen tremendous growth across the state, many families are still struggling,” Robinson said in recorded remarks. “If the Democrats have their way, they’ll pull us back into an era of government overreach, high taxes, and attacks on our personal freedoms.”

Robinson opened his remarks by talking about his childhood and being inspired by his mother, who he said single-handedly provided for her children after Robinson’s abusive father died when Robinson was in fifth grade.

He recalled how his mother worked as a custodian at a local university to pay bills and raise her kids.

“She encouraged me to dream, and told me that with faith, hard work, and perseverance I could achieve anything.”

Robinson also spoke about the challenges he overcame as he started his own family, including being laid off from jobs, lying awake at night wondering how he would pay bills, losing his house and car and being forced to declare bankruptcy.

“You see, I’m not a politician who talks about the issues facing our state as someone who doesn’t understand them; in fact, I don’t consider myself a politician at all,” Robinson said. “What I am, is a public servant, who knows what the people of North Carolina are going through, and wants to serve them, and will fight for them.”

7:40 p.m.: Cooper finishes his speech

Wrapping up his address to lawmakers, Cooper that even though he and legislators have found “plenty to disagree about” during his time in office, they have “found areas of common ground to strengthen our communities, create opportunity, and make our state more resilient and prepared for the future.”

Cooper said that all lawmakers, on both sides of the aisle, “share common aspirations” and ultimately want to “give our children more and better opportunities than we had.”

“I know that fierce debate will continue, but I appreciate that regardless of perspective, the men and women who serve in this body share a love of our state and a respect for the responsibility that comes with public service,” Cooper said.

7:30 p.m.: ‘Let’s expand Medicaid now!’ Cooper says

Republican legislative leaders announced they had reached a deal on Medicaid expansion Thursday, and Cooper praised them for moving forward with an agreement on expansion.

But, he said, North Carolina should expand Medicaid coverage right away.

“Finally, we all now agree on Medicaid expansion, we all now agree on how to do it and we all now agree on what other health care laws will be changed with it,” Cooper said. “For mental health. For working families. For rural hospitals. For a healthier North Carolina. For $1.8 billion we can’t afford to leave behind.”

“Let’s expand Medicaid now!”

Democrats stood up and cheered as Cooper called for immediate Medicaid expansion, while Republicans were more muted with their reactions.

7:25 p.m.: Cooper calls for double-digit raises for teachers

Previewing his upcoming budget proposal, Cooper said he wanted lawmakers to approve double-digit raises for teachers and principals, and other funding to keep schools safe and help children with special needs.

When Cooper told lawmakers “if we are smart about our tax policy, we can fund it into the future,” there was no applause from anyone during that pause, but when he said “balancing the budget,” there was loud applause.

Lawmakers also applauded when Cooper stated that the next state budget doesn’t need to raise taxes, but Cooper added that North Carolina’s corporate tax rates are “already competitive” and resulting in jobs “coming fast and furious” to the state.

“We don’t need more tax breaks for corporations and the wealthiest North Carolinians,” Cooper said.

7:05 p.m.: NC is ready to build prosperity, Cooper says

Cooper was escorted into the House chamber by a bipartisan group of lawmakers shortly after 7 p.m. He walked to the well of the House and shook hands with Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger, in addition to other lawmakers.

Cooper began his remarks by talking about North Carolina’s history of leaders helping the state overcome adversity and spur innovation that has led to big advancements in education and technology.

He also touted recent investments the state has secured from companies that are slated to build semiconductors, electric vehicles, and charging stations in the state.

“Our moment to build enduring prosperity is now,” Cooper said. “And I know that North Carolina is ready.”

Much like the State of the Union the president gives, the type of applause varies by party. Democrats’ applause is consistently enthusiastic, with Republicans clapping as well, if a bit more tepidly depending on what Cooper is saying.

7 p.m.: Senate, Council of State arrive

The sergeants-at-arms announced the arrivals, in turn, of the Senate, the judiciary and Council of State.

Among the group of Council of State members who entered together was Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who is also the president of the Senate. He took his seat on the dais, with House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger seated to his left.

State Auditor Beth Wood, who is facing hit-and-run charges for a December car crash in downtown Raleigh, is also here and greeted lawmakers as she entered. Cooper’s Cabinet members are here as well, including Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley.

Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson is here for what is likely his last State of the State in that role, as the former House member announced a few months ago he would not seek a second term.

6:30 p.m.: Lawmakers taking their seats in the House

The House convened at 6 p.m. with House Speaker Tim Moore presiding to handle a few minutes of business.

No votes were scheduled for Monday, and now the House is full of lawmakers who are chit-chatting and taking their seats while they wait for their counterparts in the Senate to arrive after convening their own session at 6:30 p.m.

The House chamber, which is where all 120 members of the House gather for legislative business, will also host all 50 members of the Senate, as well as other statewide elected officials and judges. Chairs have been set up in the center aisle and at the front for senators and other officials attending the speech.

A chair for Moore and a Senate-branded chair for Senate leader Phil Berger are empty on the dais, awaiting the Republican leaders.

The atmosphere in the House chamber is a friendly one, with Democrats and Republicans engaging in small talk — and maybe talking policy? — on the floor. House members are still streaming into the golden double doors that the governor will enter in about 30 minutes.

Cooper is expected to arrive a few minutes before 7 p.m. and will be escorted inside the chamber by a group of lawmakers.

4:40 p.m.: The guests Cooper invited to hear his address

Cooper’s office said he has invited four North Carolinians from across the state who he will recognize during his speech:

▪ Rhonda Rivers, an educator from Charlotte who is the regional director for curriculum and training at LeafSpring Schools.

▪ Russell Devane, a retired U.S. Army quartermaster from Ivanhoe who has worked with state and local officials to help direct funding for a new water system for his community.

▪ Meredith Draughn, a school counselor at B. Everett Jordan Elementary School in Alamance County, who was recognized as the 2023 School Counselor of the Year by the American School Counselor Association.

▪ Phyllis Pillmon, an Ahoskie resident who has been receiving telemedicine services from the Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center; and Kim Schwartz, the health center’s CEO.

4:40 p.m.: How to watch Cooper’s and Robinson’s speeches

The two speeches will be aired online at pbsnc.org, and on television, on your local PBS NC channel.

You can also stream the remarks by visiting this page and scrolling down to the embedded video, which will begin at 7 p.m.

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