Under the Dome: Gov. Cooper makes big budget asks
Good morning! ☀️ Here’s what you need to know in North Carolina politics today.
The North Carolina General Assembly started its short session on Wednesday, and there were definite First Day of School vibes. Not just from the Press Corps. Republican Rep. Jason Saine referred to that mood when I asked him about session plans – right before he was heading to a caucus meeting.
“It’s kind of like the first day of school. You miss all your friends and you haven’t grown tired of them yet. Everybody’s in a good mood, so everybody hopefully comes in with a positive attitude,” Saine told me. Saine is one of the House’s head budget writers and will be an integral player in the budget process, which is led by the Republican supermajority.
As you’ll read further in the newsletter, I wrote more about what Saine and Senate leader Phil Berger said in response to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s budget proposal, which came out just before the session started on Wednesday. — Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan
Here’s more, from Avi Bajpai, Kyle Ingram and correspondent Stephanie Loder.
WILL REPUBLICANS TAKE UP ANOTHER MAJOR GUN RIGHTS BILL THIS YEAR?
The first bill GOP lawmakers enacted over Gov. Cooper’s veto last year was a repeal of the state’s century-old permit law for buying handguns.
But many gun rights supporters believe that pistol purchase permits were just the beginning, and that another permit requirement for carrying concealed handguns should be repealed as well.
Before any other business took place on the first day of session, roughly two dozen gun rights supporters led by Paul Valone, president of Grass Roots North Carolina, delivered an estimated 7,000 petitions to the office of Senate leader Phil Berger, urging Republicans to take up a repeal bill that stalled last year.
Valone said that 29 other states have enacted some form of similar legislation, and that Republicans should move the bill this session “while they have a supermajority, because these things are never ensured.”
“All we’re asking of Republican leadership in this case is to bring us up to the standards of other states,” Valone told reporters outside Berger’s office. “Republicans want the gun vote in November, we’re telling them they better remember to dance with the one what brung you.”
After Tuesday’s opening session, Berger told reporters that a concealed carry permit repeal bill is “something that’s worth talking about” in his caucus and he would see if there’s appetite to take it up, but he also said it’s important to determine if it’s the “right policy for us to adopt at this time.” — Avi Bajpai
SOME REPUBLICANS WANT CITIZENS-ONLY VOTING AMENDMENT
Does North Carolina need a constitutional amendment stating that only citizens can vote?
The ballot in November’s election may include such an amendment as Republican lawmakers are lobbied by advocates seeking tougher election rules.
Pushing for the amendment are a group of advocates focused on election integrity. The group, the North Carolina Election Integrity Team, is linked to Cleta Mitchell, a lawyer who assisted former President Donald Trump in his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Sen. Brad Overcash, a Gaston County Republican, said he would sponsor the effort to amend the state constitution.
State law requires residents to be citizens to register to vote. It is a crime for noncitizens to vote in federal elections.
We reported on the potential constitutional amendment Tuesday. Which brings us to Wednesday…
GOP leadership is noncommital on the constitutional amendment
On Wednesday, NCEIT held a press conference outside the legislature to push for the amendment and other election changes, such as reducing the early voting period and eliminating same-day registration.
Jim Womack, the group’s leader, argued stricter rules needed to be implemented to increase citizens’ trust in election results.
“If they don’t trust them, then we’re one step already towards anarchy and tyranny in the country,” he said.
Asked about the possibility of bringing the amendment to a vote, Senate leader Phil Berger demurred.
“I think you can make a legalistic argument that something like that is already prohibited,” he said. “However, I don’t see any harm in including that as a constitutional amendment. We’ll see if there’s enough support.” — Kyle Ingram
BETTER BONUSES, RAISES FOR TEACHERS REQUESTED
Even before the General Assembly’s short session began on Wednesday, Gov. Roy Cooper was telling the news media what he wants to see in updates to the state’s $34.5 billion spending plan.
Cooper is asking for:
At least a 5% raise for state employees, plus bonuses.
A 3% one-time bonus for retired state employees as a COLA.
An 8.5% teacher pay raise this year with a $1,500 retention bonus.
Restoration of master’s degree pay for teachers.
Funding for teacher assistants.
Expansion of teaching fellow scholarships.
A $2.5 billion bond referendum on ballots this fall for public education to pay for 90 new elementary schools and middle schools.
$458 million in new money to fund Medicaid.
The GOP-controlled legislature wants to pass a budget adjustment bill, but won’t necessarily follow the Democratic governor’s recommendations for how much to spend or how to spend it. This year, the legislature is working with a $1.4 billion revenue surplus.
Get the full story from Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan here.
WILL NC FOLLOW UNC SYSTEM DEI REPEAL?
Republican Senate leader Phil Berger said he thinks “some members are interested in taking a look” at pursuing additional measures for state government workplaces regarding the repeal of diversity, equity and inclusion or DEI.
The UNC System Board of Governors last week began the process to get rid of DEI at North Carolina’s public universities. The University Governance committee voted to approve a policy that would eliminate DEI-related jobs across the 17 campuses, or remove their ties to diversity efforts..
Berger, speaking to reporters Wednesday on the Senate floor after the kickoff of the General Assembly’s short session, said legislators could decide to extend similar measures to parts of state government.
Get the full story from Korie Dean here.
NC MOVES TO PARTNER WAKE WITH NEW EARLY COLLEGE PARTNER
A new four-year college partner for Wake County’s leadership academies may be on the horizon for the 2024-25 school year to replace St. Augustine’s University.
The Wake school board voted in March to end its partnership with St. Augustine’s at the end of this school year amid financial and accreditation problems facing the university.
Legislation filed Wednesday in the state House asks the State Board of Education to approve a new early college partner for the two leadership academies and provide state funding.
House Bill 900, which has bipartisan support, was sponsored by Wake County lawmakers Republican Erin Paré and Democrats Maria Cervania, Sarah Crawford and Ya Liu.
Get the full story from T. Keung Hui here.
TIME TO RSVP FOR UNDER THE DOME: LIVE!
Join The N&O on April 30 for a special live recording of the Under the Dome politics podcast featuring Sen. Natalie Murdock (D-20) and Sen. Vickie Sawyer (R-37).
Here’s what you need to know to join in:
Register at underthedomelive.eventbrite.com with code: domelive
The event starts at 5 p.m.
The podcast begins at 5:30 p.m.
Join us in the Daniels Auditorium at the N.C. Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh.
That’s all for today. Check your inbox tomorrow for more #ncpol news.
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