Every American deserves high-quality affordable health care. Today, we are one step closer towards meeting that promise, as 600,000 North Carolinians can now access the affordable, quality coverage they need under Medicaid. Thanks to Governor Roy Cooper’s years of leadership, in partnership with bipartisan elected officials, North Carolina is the 40th state to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. 300,000 North Carolinians will receive this coverage immediately and rural hospitals across the state will be able to keep their doors open to continue to care for their communities.
Despite this progress, MAGA Republicans still want to get rid of the Affordable Care Act, just like my predecessor tried and failed to do repeatedly. There are 40 million people who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act and repealing the law would put their care at risk. Repealing the Affordable Care Act means that states, including North Carolina, wouldn’t be able to offer care through Medicaid expansion.
Let’s strengthen the Affordable Care Act instead of getting rid of it. Let’s work together to bring down Americans’ health care and prescription drug costs, and expand Medicaid in the 10 remaining states. And to those who want to repeal this lifesaving law let me be clear: I won’t let it happen on my watch.
PRESS RELEASE (OCTOBER 24, 2023)
NC HOUSE DISTRICT 120 REPRESENTATIVE KARL GILLESPIE
Raleigh, NC—Southwestern Child Development recently announced that effective October 31, 2023, they will be closing seven childcare centers in the westernmost counties of North Carolina.
“I am deeply concerned about the abrupt and untimely announcement of the immediate closure of the childcare centers in our district,” stated Rep. Gillespie. “I was unaware of the impending closures until late last week when constituents began contacting my office. The closure of these essential services poses a significant challenge to our community, affecting not only working families but also the economic stability of the district. Reliable childcare plays a crucial role in the lives of our residents, allowing parents and guardians to work, pursue education, and ensure the overall welfare of their children. Alongside my colleague Senator Kevin Corbin, we are committed to addressing this issue head-on and are actively working with all concerned parties, both at the local and state levels, to find viable and sustainable solutions.”
After discussions with NCDHHS about the issue, they indicated that “we do not have any funds which can help Southwestern Child Development stay open.” Southwestern Child Development Commission will close operations in the following far western North Carolina counties after 50 years of service: Clay, Cherokee, Graham, Haywood, and Jackson Counties.
Last night, the Governor gave his annual State of the State Address for North Carolina and the Lt Governor gave his response. Video and transcripts of both speechs are posted below without any interpretation or political agenda.
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Governor Cooper Delivers 2023 State of the State Address
The prepared remarks of North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper for the State of the State address on Monday night, as provided by the Governor's Office:
Mr. President Pro Tempore, Mr. Speaker, Lieutenant Governor, Members of the General Assembly, Council of State, Mr. Chief Justice and members of the Supreme Court, Madame Chief Judge and members of the Court of Appeals, Cabinet Secretaries and my fellow North Carolinians: I am honored to join you to report on the state of our great state.
With me tonight, is my remarkable wife, our First Lady, Kristin, our three wonderful daughters, Hilary, Natalie and Claire and my son-in-law Zack and my brother Pell, all of whom I’m thankful for each and every day.
Each generation has but so many chances to leave an indelible mark on history that benefits the generations to come. And so often, our greatest advancements come after our greatest upheavals. War, protests, strife, disasters, pandemic. To find ourselves as state leaders at a time like this, is to bear a tremendous responsibility. A responsibility to learn from adversity and make things better. A responsibility that reaches far into our future.
Two-hundred and thirty-four years ago, legislative leaders following the directive in our first constitution cited “the indispensable duty …to consult the happiness of a rising generation” and chartered the first public university in the nation. Today, the positive effects of North Carolina’s great public university system reach around the globe.
Sixty years ago, a forward-looking group of North Carolinians had the vision to see a place for research and development. They recognized an urgent need to diversify our state’s economic anchors. And they worked collaboratively to do something about it. Today, we know their work as the Research Triangle Park.
Thirty-nine years ago, spotting yet another shift in industry, our leaders gathered strength from our word-class universities, medical schools and researchers to launch the North Carolina Biotechnology Center which has helped to spark a surging life sciences sector in our economy.
Time and again, overcoming adversity, our leaders had the foresight and the resolve to invest in new ideas that have revolutionized our state, impacting the generations that followed.
And while we stand on their shoulders, we also stand at an altogether new crossroads. One that demands we have the same clarity of purpose, the same innovation, the same determination that brought us here.
Our moment to build enduring prosperity is now. And I know that North Carolina is ready.
As we sit here tonight, North Carolina is cementing its place as a leader in the global clean energy economy – no longer the industry of the future, but the flourishing business of today. North Carolina is a clean energy destination, bringing good paying manufacturing jobs to parts of our state that years ago knew more factory closures than ribbon cuttings.
Consider electric vehicles, now projected to grow into a $400 billion global market in just five years. And it’s cranking up right here. From the battery manufacturing in Randolph County to the semiconductor production and the electric vehicle manufacturing in Chatham County, to the charging station production in Durham County. North Carolina has a claim to every link and every job in this fast-growing, lucrative supply chain.
The private sector electric vehicle market is about to take the world by storm and North Carolina is riding the first wave. And that means more money in the pockets of North Carolinians even as we do our part to fight climate change.
Through bipartisan cooperation here in the General Assembly, we became just the second state in the Southeast to put carbon reduction requirements into law. And through my executive orders, we’ve brought people together to plot our course to a net-zero carbon future, to cleaner transportation, and toward more renewable energy like wind and solar power. With challenges like jobs and climate change, you can only make progress when you set ambitious goals. And we’re taking action to reach those goals, because progress is never passive.
And it’s not just clean energy that’s thriving in our state. Technology, aerospace, biotechnology advanced manufacturing, and many more industries are building for growth in North Carolina. In 2022, we broke records yet again, with tens of thousands of new jobs last year alone. From the cities of Charlotte and Greensboro to the counties of Halifax and Scotland, in urban and rural areas far and wide, North Carolina continues to be the best place for people to live, learn, work and raise a family.
And we’ve made sure that’s no secret. In 2022, North Carolina was named THE number one state in the country for business.
You legislators deserve some credit for that. My administration deserves some credit for that. Our business community deserves some credit for that. But we all know who deserves the bulk of the credit: those who make up our amazing workforce – the determined, dedicated and diverse people of North Carolina.
Yep, our talented, educated workers are the foundation of our economic success. And we’ve succeeded in expanding that workforce to be more diverse and more inclusive. Like with veterans who served our great country, people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people who’ve paid their debt to society. All are becoming integral parts of our workforce because we are being intentional about making it happen.
And as our growth accelerates, we must not forget that once-in-a-generation opportunities require once-in-a-generation investments. Because these new jobs require more skill, the education pipeline from early childhood all the way through community college and universities is more important than ever.
A great workforce requires real investment from cradle to career. And it starts with early childhood education at quality child care centers. With federal resources initiated by the Biden Administration, we have invested more than $800 million to stabilize child care, helping centers with great teachers stay open, and helping North Carolina parents get back to work. It’s a triple play, guys: education for the child, a job earning money for the parent, and a badly needed employee for the business. We need to fill them with high quality staff and keep those child care centers open.
One child care leader is with us tonight. Rhonda Rivers is the Regional Director of Curriculum and Training for LeafSpring Schools in Charlotte. Her centers used our child care grants to give bonuses to recruit and retain high-quality teachers. Rhonda has said that these grants helped her keep good teachers who might have been forced to go elsewhere even though they love their jobs. For all they do for children, parents and businesses, let’s give Rhonda and her colleagues a hand for their amazing work.
We know that a great workforce also relies on public schools. Educating the next generation of workers who will fill the jobs that we haven’t even yet imagined is how we stay an economic powerhouse. And we know that a sound, basic education, as required by our state constitution, calls for qualified teachers in every classroom, skilled principals in every school, excellent counselors, and the funding to support every student from every walk of life.
Now, I know many of you on the Republican side of the aisle don’t believe the N.C. Supreme Court should be able to order you to invest more in our children’s education to comply with the constitution. But the Court should uphold decades of bipartisan Supreme Court precedent that comes down on the side of the children, because that’s what really matters – the children.
The education investments ordered by the Court are the right thing to do not only for our children, but our parents, our workforce and our businesses.
We have the money this year and next to fund the plan. And if we’re smart about our tax policy, we can fund it into the future. The budget I will present to you invests in the entire education plan ordered by the court. It gives teachers and principals double digit raises, it keeps the buses running, it helps kids with special needs, it keeps schools safe, it does not raise taxes and it balances the budget.
Supporting students also means more mental health care. The youth mental health crisis cannot be ignored.
Just ask Meredith Draughn who’s here with us tonight. Meredith experiences this crisis up close. As a school counselor at B. Everett Jordan Elementary School in Alamance County, Meredith sees firsthand the increasing number of children dealing with stress and anxiety. Her support is critical to their well-being and can be life-saving. All our counselors, teachers and school staff play a vital role in student mental health. And we are so proud that Meredith was named the 2023 National School Counselor of the Year. Let’s give Meredith a hand.
With federal funds, I’ve already directed tens of millions of dollars to this critically important effort, including mental health first aid that helps teachers and school staff recognize the signs of a child in crisis. And in the coming days, I’ll propose a plan that makes historic investments in the whole-person health of every North Carolinian. It will save lives, save government resources and pay dividends for decades to come.
The education pipeline continues with our community colleges and universities that are central to the educated workforce of the future. In every corner of our state, community colleges are coordinating directly with local industry and workforce development boards. They’re creating hands-on training programs that help their graduates cross the stage with a degree or credential AND a job offer in hand. I’ve worked with you legislators in a bipartisan way to make sure people can get this training through Longleaf Commitment grants, Finish Line grants and other community college funding. Let’s keep at it.
We have the very best array of public and private universities, including more four-year HBCUs than any state in the country. In order for our public universities to stay great, our leaders on the University Board of Governors and Trustees must reflect the broad demographic and political diversity in our state. That’s why I created the bipartisan Commission on the Future of Public Universities to propose changes to the way our university leadership is selected to better reflect who we are. I ask you to carefully consider their report.
We must maintain a world-class education system, keep our amazing state employee workforce, build infrastructure, make sure people are healthy and make other investments to keep our state thriving. That requires a smart tax policy. Now, before the finger pointing starts, l want to be clear - we do not need to raise taxes.
But even the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce has said that our current corporate tax rates are already competitive. The jobs are coming fast and furious to North Carolina now and more tax cuts for those at the top will stunt our growth when we should be investing in our workforce. We don’t need more tax breaks for corporations and the wealthiest North Carolinians.
In addition to education, we’re tackling the challenge of our robust growth with more critical infrastructure like roads, bridges, ports and rail. And thanks to the generational investments of the American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law we’re investing more than $2 billion to do what once seemed a faraway dream. We’re going to ensure that every home in North Carolina has access to high-speed internet.
And our Office of Digital Equity and Literacy – the first in the nation – is working to ensure that everyone can get online with affordable devices and good training.
Getting more people online means healthier communities. That’s something Phyllis Pillmon knows well. Phyllis lives in Ahoskie, and she’s here tonight with Kim Schwartz, the CEO of Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center, to highlight the remarkable ways that telemedicine can benefit our state. Phyllis has a hybrid plan of care where she sees her regular doctor in person while connecting with specialists as far away as Charlotte. That’s a 280-mile gap that Phyllis and her specialist can span in just seconds. Phyllis, we’re glad you’re online and Kim, we’re glad your center provides this valuable service for people in Eastern North Carolina! Let’s give them a hand.
We’re also using federal funds to make historic investments in clean water. Across the country, we’ve seen the consequences of neglected water systems, particularly in our rural communities. Without reliable clean drinking water, families struggle, new business won’t come to town, and communities can wither.
Travelling the state, I’ve heard stories from families who can’t wash their clothes regularly because the water’s brown, about pipes that freeze and break when it’s cold, about frequent boil alerts because the water may not be safe. Now those stories will change.
In a normal year, our state invests around $200 million in clean water infrastructure. But with this new federal funding, we’re investing more than $2.3 billion over two years to rebuild hundreds of water systems in nearly every county in our state.
The town of Ivanhoe in Sampson County got one of those grants because Russell Devane, who’s here tonight, worked with other members of his community and with local and state government to highlight the problem resulting in $13.2 million to bring clean water to his town. Let’s give Russell and all the community leaders who are working to make life better for their residents a big hand.
Tonight, I’ve stressed how we are at a pivotal moment with unprecedented opportunities to benefit the generations to come. We are seizing that moment by expanding Medicaid. I’m grateful for our unified Democratic legislators and some Republicans who have been relentless for years in this effort to expand Medicaid. I commend the Republican leadership of this legislature for now embracing this and coming together in agreement. I also deeply appreciate the many health care professionals and advocates from all walks of life who have worked tirelessly to get this done. When we get Medicaid expansion across the finish line, it will save lives.
Tonight, I bring a message of urgency that I hope all of you will keep at heart. Every month we wait to expand not only costs lives but costs our state more than $521 million a month in federal health care dollars. And if we don’t expand soon, we will forfeit an additional $1.8 billion in Health Care Access and Stabilization or HASP funds that our hospitals will never get back, and that would be particularly hard on our rural hospitals. No business would make that kind of financial decision. 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. 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.
Another group that has frequently called for Medicaid expansion is our law enforcement officers. They witness every day the consequences of people who need mental health care instead of handcuffs. As one sheriff told me, jails are our biggest mental health facilities. That’s a problem we need to solve.
We need law enforcement focused on protecting our communities. And there’s more we can do to reduce crime and keep communities safe while making sure our criminal justice system operates fairly and without prejudice. My Task Force on Racial Equity in Criminal Justice has offered smart solutions, like a duty for officers to intervene. And I was glad that the legislature took action on that recommendation to pass a bipartisan bill that I signed. Let’s continue that important work as there is more to do. And let’s invest the resources to recruit and retain more good law enforcement officers and support them with the better pay and training they deserve.
Let’s take affirmative steps to make life safer for these brave law enforcement officers and everyday people by keeping guns away from children, criminals and those who are a danger to themselves or others. This is especially true now that death by gunfire has surpassed car accidents as the number one cause of injury deaths for children. A recent report found that in 2021, children in N.C. were 51% more likely to die from gun violence than children in the U.S. as a whole. If you support the responsible gun ownership that we are granted under the Second Amendment as I do, then we cannot accept this. In the weeks to come, let’s move forward to fight gun violence, not backward.
At the outset of my time as governor, I set a clear goal. I wanted North Carolinians to be healthier, better educated, with more money in their pockets and to have lives of purpose and abundance. And though we still have hard work ahead – for working families, hurricane survivors, and those who feel forgotten and left behind – I’m encouraged by the progress we’ve made as a state. Progress that’s been possible because we’ve agreed on economic development strategies and worked to create a good business environment with the best employees in the world. Avoiding the worst of the culture wars these past six years has also been good for business. We worked together in a bipartisan way to fully repeal the horrible bathroom bill the first year I took office. And as we look to the future, I challenge this General Assembly to keep us off the front lines of those culture wars that hurt people and cost us jobs so we can continue our successful bipartisan work.
Use public schools to build a brighter future, not to bully and marginalize LGBTQ students. Don’t make teachers re-write history. Keep the freedom to vote in reach for every eligible voter. Leave the decisions about reproductive health care to women and their doctors.
We must not go backward when so much promise lies ahead.
In my six years as governor, you legislators and I have found plenty to disagree about. But we have found areas of common ground to strengthen our communities, create opportunity, and make our state more resilient and prepared for the future.
Many of us here have a deep faith in God. We share common aspirations. We want safe communities, good jobs and an affordable quality of life. We want to give our children more and better opportunities than we had.
This has always been North Carolina’s story: good people from diverse communities coming together to build a common future. 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. We must commit wherever possible to pursue together our shared ambitions for our great state.
The leaders who steered us through the crossroads of the last century kept front and center the promise of the future. Building on their foresight, North Carolina’s growth and success have eclipsed anything that seemed possible.
Now, it’s on us to lay the foundation for North Carolina’s next transformation that promises progress and growth for the generations ahead.
Today, I stand before you to report that the state of our state is bright and energized with the promise of tomorrow.
As we envision tomorrow and all the days that follow, let’s work toward a North Carolina where the doors of opportunity are wide open, bursting with possibility for everyone. A North Carolina where hope abounds. A North Carolina where strong growth is made possible by the investments we make today – in our classrooms, in our economy, in our communities, and in our people.
Thank you and may God bless North Carolina and the United States of America.
Ly Governor Robinson Delivers the Republican Response
[note] Text extracted from the video. No official source of transcipt was available at press time. --Bobby
Hello, I'm your Lieutenant governor,
Mark Robinson,
and it's my honor to address you tonight.
I was born and raised in Greensboro, NC as the 9th of 10 children, our home was filled with alcoholism and violence.
My father routinely abused my mother. When I was in the 5th grade, my father died and I was terrified. He'd been the sole provider for our family. I thought we were going to be homeless. I wasn't sure that my mom would be
able to provide for the five of
us that were still living at home.
A few days after my father died,
a friend of my mother came by and told her,
well now you can kick up your feet
and relax because you can get welfare
and be taken care of by the state.
But my mom decided to take a different path.
She walked across the street
from my home and got a job as a
custodian at the local university.
There, she cleaned up for other people's children to provide for her own.
Remember the first paycheck she got? She picked up McDonald's for dinner.
You would have thought we were eating a 5 star meal.
That was the best food I've ever had.
I was so proud of my mom.
She was my hero.
She encouraged me to dream
and told me that with faith,
hard work and perseverance
I could achieve anything.
My mom passed away in 2016.
I know she would be proud to see
her son serving as the first black
Lieutenant governor of North Carolina.
The journey to where I am today
was long and difficult.
Like so many other North Carolinians,
I faced my share of adversity.
I lost not one, but two jobs to NAFTA.
I've laid awake at night wondering
how I was going to pay my bills.
I lost my house, my car,
and decades ago was forced
to declare bankruptcy.
But like my mother taught me,
I leaned on my faith,
continued to work hard, and persevered.
Now I've been married to
my wife for over 30 years.
We have two wonderful children
and two incredible grandchildren.
I've served in the military,
worked in manufacturing,
been a general manager at a restaurant,
and owned a small business with my wife.
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.
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?
And like my own personal journey,
our state has experienced
both hardship and victory.
Since Republicans were elected to the
majority in the General Assembly.
They have implemented common sense
economic policies to ensure that you
can keep more of your hard earned money.
And they've been good stewards of your money.
Like your family,
they've had to set a budget and
stick to it. That fiscal responsibility
resulted in historic economic growth.
The Republican led General Assembly
turned a state that was billions
of dollars in debt and struggling
financially into an economic powerhouse.
North Carolina is the number
one state in the nation to do business.
But while we've seen tremendous
growth across the state,
many families are still struggling.
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.
During the pandemic,
we saw just how far they would
go to control your lives.
They shut down your businesses,
they kept your children out of school,
and they told you you couldn't go to church.
The Biden administration's tax
and spend philosophy is hurting
North Carolinians at every turn.
Prices of essentials like gas
and groceries are skyrocketing,
and we're still facing shortages of
everyday goods like baby formula.
Here in North Carolina,
Democrats will follow the lead
of President Biden and their
counterparts in Congress and go on
a spending spree with your money.
We can't afford that.
We have the opportunity to provide
relief to our fellow citizens by
further cutting personal income taxes
for all hard working North Carolinians.
We can do this thanks to the
fiscal responsibility of our
Republican-led legislature that has
transformed deficits into surpluses.
One way to continue growing our economy
is supporting quality education.
I'm passionate about making sure
that N Carolinians maximize their
potential and can follow their dreams.
Teachers have one of the most
important jobs in our society.
We must hold them to professional
standards and we must pay them
as the professionals they are.
We need to quit asking teachers
to be police officers,
social workers and parents.
Their job is to teach, plain and simple.
And what should they be teaching
our students?
They should be teaching our students
how to think, not what to think,
ensuring that personal or political
ideologies stay out of the classroom.
And then we get back to the basics
of reading, writing and arithmetic.
It's a parent's responsibility to teach
their children about right and wrong.
It's a teachers responsibility
to impart knowledge to them.
Over the last few years,
it's been harder than ever
for our teachers to do that.
COVID lockdown significantly
impacted our children's learning,
and data now shows that kids
can't read on the grade level.
That's unacceptable.
I'll tell you something
else that's unacceptable.
The violence in our schools after
911 airport and airline security
was fundamentally transformed.
In the wake of the many tragedies
that we've seen on school campuses,
not nearly enough has been done to
expand security at our schools.
The safety of our students shouldn't
be a Republican or Democrat issue.
It's about protecting our sons and daughters.
As you can tell,
I'm very passionate about education.
It's the reason that I ran
for Lieutenant governor.
During my first few months
in office as a member
of the State Board of Education,
I evaluated the state's proposed K through
12 social studies standards and oppose
the ideologically driven materials.
Because of this, I the first black
Lieutenant governor of North Carolina.
Was called a white supremacist and depicted
as a Ku Klux Klan member by one of the
largest media outlets in the state.
That did not deter me.
Instead, it fueled me to fight
harder for our students.
We were camped this a lot
during our time in office,
but I'm most proud of working with the
legislature to secure $11.6 million in
funding for apprenticeships programs
for the rural parts of our state.
Programs like this are going to be
vital as we look to the future.
Like many North Carolinians,
my path to a degree was not straight or easy.
For nearly my entire education,
I was a full time student and
a full time worker.
Often I could only take a few classes
while working to support my family.
It was just months ago as the Lieutenant
governor that I finally walked across
the stage at the University of North
Carolina at Greensboro and earned my
degree 30 years after starting my journey.
I'm proud of the university system
that we have here in North Carolina.
It's among the best in the country.
And is crucial to the economic
growth of our state.
Many companies relocate the North
Carolina because of the quality
workforce created by our universities.
However,
we must denounce the misconception
that the only way to success
is through a four year degree.
Thanks to investments by
our Republican legislature,
we also have an incredible Community
College system where trade and
technical programs provide fast tracked,
well paying careers in fields that
are vital to our state's economy
and to our communities.
Electricians, plumbers,
Masons, welders, mechanics,
and other skilled trade workers
earn incredible starting salaries.
Many of those professions are aging out,
leaving crucial shortages across our state.
As our state grows,
industries move and industries move here,
though,
skilled labor and high tech manufacturing
jobs will continue to be in demand.
As we look to the future,
we must ensure that our state is equipped to
deal with the growth we are experiencing.
That means we need to have accurate,
adequate infrastructure.
And I don't just mean widening roads and
fixing bridges around the metropolitan areas.
We need to ensure that the entire state,
from Murphy to Manio has what it needs.
A key component of this is ensuring
that everyone in our state,
no matter where you live,
has access to high speed Internet.
It's a fact of life that high speed
Internet connections are essential
in both business and education.
It's going to take a lot of people
to work and work on this issue,
and I would be remiss if we didn't
acknowledge the ongoing work by
our governor and our legislature
and even our federal delegation.
This issue, like so many others we face,
shouldn't be a part of someone.
All of us, as public servants,
should be able to come together and get
this job done for the people that we serve.
The reality is that most people just
want their elected officials to do
their jobs to make sure that our
education system is strong there,
our economy is healthy,
and that our communities are safe.
Which brings me to the next item
I want to talk to you about
this evening's public safety.
I am highly dismayed when I see
elected officials abandoned the
men and women of law enforc ement
at the first sign of trouble,
and I am furious when they follow
narratives instead of following facts.
The men and women who protect our
communities and our state deserve respect.
Elected officials should make sure
police have what they need and
encourage them to do their jobs and
be proactive in fighting crime.
That's not the case today.
We see law enforcement officers
today demonized and vilified,
and our communities are paying the price.
Police departments are struggling
to fill positions soft on crime
policies release dangerous criminals
back onto our streets.
And this isn't just in places
like San Francisco or Chicago.
It's happening right here in North Carolina.
In places like Asheville,
countless offices across this
state just want to do their jobs
and serve their communities.
We must restore public trust in law
enforcement and return an air of
respect to the men and women in blue.
This means empowering police to engage
with the community they serve properly,
training and equipping them to
deescalate dangerous situations,
and, of course,
that elected officials stand with
our law enforcement officers,
not use them as political pawns.
Here in North Carolina,
we, and that includes me,
have an opportunity to go
beyond politics as normal.
In our society today,
we are so divided and thoughtful.
Discussion is often replaced with tweets,
sound bites and heated rhetoric.
When you're sworn in,
they don't give you a manual
or a guide for dummies,
so to speak,
on how to serve or face the challenges
of public pressure.
They don't teach you to handle a media
that's more interested in the gotcha
game instead of fairly reporting the news.
So what do you do?
You try your best.
You stay true to who you are.
If you make a mistake what you will,
and I have you learn from it and
work hard to do even better.
That is what the citizens of
North Carolina expect their
elected officials to do.
Whether it be on the City Council
or on the Council of State.
We must drop our weapons of political war.
We must work hard on behalf
of all North Carolinians.
We must come together to work on real
solutions to the real problems that we face.
To overcome the challenges as we always
have and to celebrate our victories.
I've shared with you tonight a
little about my personal story
and this journey that our state has been on.
I want to leave you with this.
Never could I have imagined,
as a poor black kid growing up
on Logan Street in Greensboro,
that I would be where I am today.
In the same way that I overcame
the challenges in my own life,
we have an opportunity as a state to
confront the challenges that we face today,
and we can face them head on.
And work for a better future.
Not just for our own tomorrow's,
but for the tomorrow's of future generations.
We all have a duty to make
sure those children have hope.
That they know they live in a
state where anything is possible,
and with hard work they can
achieve their dreams.
I'm honored to serve as you,
your Lieutenant governor.
And to live in the greatest state.
In the greatest nation on Earth.
May God bless America, North Carolina, and May God bless you.
Governor Roy Cooper extended the Stay at Home Order until May 8th and released a three-phase plan to ease restriction over a period of several weeks based on several benchmarks the state must meet in order to incrementally relax restrictions. Those restrictions will be reduced at each phase.
To move from phase to phase, the state must see 14-day decreases in the percentage of positive tests and the number of coronavirus-like cases identified by surveillance methods. It also requires a decrease or sustained-leveling of the number of lab-confirmed cases and hospitalizations. Details are in the videos and documents posted in this article.
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Spanish
Press Release
NC Governor
Raleigh
Apr 23, 2020
**Note** Informational slides from the April 23 Briefing have been embedded below the press release.
Governor Roy Cooper today issued Executive Order No. 135 (embedded below this press release) extending North Carolina’s Stay At Home order through May 8. The orders extending closure of restaurants for dine-in service and bars and closure of other close-contact businesses are also extended through May 8.
Governor Cooper shared details about North Carolina’s plan to lift restrictions in three phases once the data show that key metrics are headed in the right direction.
“The health and safety of people in North Carolina must be our top priority,” Cooper said. “This plan provides a roadmap for us to begin easing restrictions in stages to push our economy forward.”
Last week, Governor Cooper laid out the path forward centered on three things: testing, tracing and trends. Today, Governor Cooper and Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of NC Department of Health and Human Services, shared more specifics on those key metrics. The Stay At Home and other orders are extended today because North Carolina has not yet seen a downward trajectory of those metrics needed to begin gradually lifting restrictions.
“North Carolina cannot stay at home indefinitely,” added Governor Cooper. “We have to get more people back to work. Right now, the decision to stay at home is based on the public health data and White House guidance. North Carolina needs more time to slow the spread of this virus before we can safely begin lifting restrictions. I know that this pandemic has made life difficult for many people in our state and I am focused on keeping our communities safe while planning to slowly lift restrictions to help cushion the blow to our economy.”
“Data has driven our decisions, starting with the aggressive measures Governor Cooper took early on to slow the spread of COVID-19. Those actions combined with North Carolinians’ resolve to stay home to protect their loved ones have put our state on the right path. If we stick to these efforts right now we will continue to see a slowing of virus spread and we can slowly begin easing restrictions,” said Secretary Cohen.
A detailed look at where North Carolina stands on testing, tracing and trends and more information about the three-phase plan can be found in today’s presentation. The metrics that North Carolina is considering aligns with the White House guidance for Opening Up American Again.
In order to begin lifting restrictions, North Carolina needs to see progress in these key metrics:
Sustained Leveling or Decreased Trajectory in COVID-Like Illness (CLI) Surveillance Over 14 Days
Currently, North Carolina’s syndromic surveillance trend for COVID-like illness is decreasing over the last 14 days.
Sustained Leveling or Decreased Trajectory of Lab-Confirmed Cases Over 14 Days
Currently, North Carolina’s trajectory of lab-confirmed cases over the last 14 days cases is still increasing, although at a slower rate.
Sustained Leveling or Decreased Trajectory in Percent of Tests Returning Positive Over 14 Days
Currently, North Carolina’s trajectory in percent of tests returning positive over the last 14 days is increasing at a slow rate.
Sustained Leveling or Decreased Trajectory in Hospitalizations Over 14 Days
Currently, North Carolina’s trajectory of hospitalizations over the last 14 days is largely level with a slight trend upward.
In addition to these metrics, the state will continue building capacity to be able to adequately respond to an increase in virus spread. These include:
Increase in Laboratory Testing
Currently, North Carolina is testing approximately 2,500 to 3,000 people per day and is working to increase to at least 5,000 to 7,000 per day.
Increase in Tracing Capability
Currently, North Carolina has approximately 250 people doing contact tracing across its local health departments and is working to double this workforce to 500.
Availability of Personal Protective Equipment
The state is working to ensure there are adequate supplies to fulfill requests for critical PPE for at least 30 days. This includes face shields, gloves, gowns, N95 masks, and surgical and procedural masks. Currently the state has less than 30 days supply of gowns and N95 masks. Availability of PPE is calculated based on the average number of requests for the last 14 days compared to the supply that the state has on hand.
Governor Cooper also shared information about how North Carolina can gradually re-open over three phases to prevent hot spots of viral spread while also beginning to bring our economy back. These phases are based on the best information available now, but could be altered as new information emerges.
In Phase 1:
Modify the Stay At Home order allow travel not currently defined as essential allowing people to leave home for commercial activity at any business that is allowed to be open, such as clothing stores, sporting goods stores, book shops, houseware stores and other retailers.
Ensure that any open stores implement appropriate employee and consumer social distancing, enhanced hygiene and cleaning protocols, symptom screening of employees, accommodations for vulnerable workers, and provide education to employees and workers to combat misinformation
Continue to limit gatherings to no more than 10 people
Reopen parks that have been closed subject to the same gathering limitation. Outdoor exercise will continue to be encouraged.
Continue to recommend face coverings in public spaces when 6 feet of distancing isn’t possible
Encourage employers to continue teleworking policies
Continue rigorous restrictions on nursing homes and other congregant care settings
Local emergency orders with more restrictive measures may remain in place.
Phase 2
At least 2-3 weeks after Phase 1
Lift Stay At Home order with strong encouragement for vulnerable populations to continue staying at home to stay safe
Allow limited opening of restaurants, bars, fitness centers, personal care services, and other businesses that can follow safety protocols including the potential need to reduce capacity
Allow gathering at places such as houses of worship and entertainment venues at reduced capacity
Increase in number of people allowed at gatherings
Open public playgrounds
Continue rigorous restrictions on nursing homes and other congregant care settings
Phase 3
At least 4-6 weeks after Phase 2
Lessen restrictions for vulnerable populations with encouragement to continue practicing physical distancing and minimizing exposure to settings where distancing isn’t possible
Allow increased capacity at restaurants, bars, other businesses, houses of worships, and entertainment venues
Further increase the number of people allowed at gatherings
Continue rigorous restrictions on nursing homes and other congregant care settings
Governor Cooper and Dr. Cohen both underscored the need for the testing, tracing and trends to move in the right direction for each of these phases to move forward. If there is a spike in infections, tightening of restrictions may be needed temporarily.
Information about K-12 public schools will follow later this week.
###END PRESS RELEASE###
Documents from the presentation have been embedded below:
Documents from the presentation have been embedded below:
Did you know that 243 years ago today, the Mecklenburg Resolves document was created by the Mecklenburg County Committee of Safety?
The Resolves were adopted by that same committee on May 31, 1775.
The Resolves were lost during the revolution and not rediscovered until 1838.
Here is the full text of the Resolves, with the original spelling retained:
The Mecklenburgh Resolutions
I. Resolved: That whosoever directly or indirectly abets, or in any way, form, or manner countenances the unchartered and dangerous invasion of our rights, as claimed by Great Britain, is an enemy to this country -- to America -- and to the inherent and inalienable rights of man.
II. Resolved: That we do hereby declare ourselves a free and independent people; are, and of right ought to be a sovereign and self-governing association, under the control of no power, other than that of our God and the General Government of the Congress: To the maintainance of which Independence we solemnly pledge to each other our mutual co-operation, our Lives, our Fortunes, and our most Sacred Honor.
III. Resolved: That as we acknowledge the existence and control of no law or legal officer, civil or military, within this county, we do hereby ordain and adopt as a rule of life, all, each, and every one of our former laws, wherein, nevertheless, the Crown of Great Britain never can be considered as holding rights, privileges, or authorities therein.
IV. Resolved: That all, each, and every Military Officer in this country is hereby reinstated in his former command and authority, he acting to their regulations, and that every Member present of this Delegation, shall henceforth be a Civil Officer, viz: a Justice of the Peace, in the character of a Committee Man, to issue process, hear and determine all matters of controversy, according to said adopted laws, and to preserve Peace, Union, and Harmony in said county, to use every exertion to spread the Love of Country and Fire of Freedom Throughout America, until a more general and organized government be established in this Province.
There was a protest in downtown Franklin today by teachers and their supporters. I do not know how many or how few attended or what, if anything, was said because I was not informed by the organizers of the event. Bob Scott was there and has graciously shared some photos he took.
I've neglected to cover the happenings in the North Carolina General Assembly this year and I hope to correct that in the next session of the state legislature. Below is a press release from Americans for Prosperity regarding their reaction to the signing of House Bill 998 into law. Read the text of the bill.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday July 23, 2013 CONTACT: Dallas Woodhouse at (919) 671-1050 ordwoodhouse@afphq.org
Conservative group believes tax reform is the "jobs bill" of the legislative session
RALEIGH, NC – Americans for Prosperity, the state’s leading voice for economic freedom, praised the North Carolina General Assembly and Governor Pat McCrory for passing and signing major tax reform legislation into law. Governor McCrory is signing House Bill 998 – the Tax Simplification and Reduction Act – at a ceremony today at the State Capitol building.
“The taxpayers of North Carolina should be very proud of what has happened here in Raleigh,” said Dallas Woodhouse State Director Americans for Prosperity-North Carolina. “We have leaders at the General Assembly and in Governor McCrory that did what previous administrations were unable or unwilling to do – provide tax relief to North Carolina and reform an antiquated tax code.”
The new tax reform law reduces and simplifies the 3-tiered state personal income tax from the current maximum rate of 7.75% and minimum rate of 6% to a flat rate of 5.75% in 2015. It also reduces the corporate income tax from 6.9% - the highest rate in the southeast – to 5.75% in 2015 and potentially 3% by 2017. The new law also repeals North Carolina’s estate tax, also known as the “Death tax.”
Woodhouse continued, “Under the old tax code, our personal and corporate income taxes created real ‘sticker shock’ for entrepreneurs and businesses looking to locate in North Carolina. The new tax code makes our state much more attractive to businesses looking to relocate. I believe that this was the jobs bill of this legislative session.
North Carolina’s unemployment rate is currently fifth highest in the nation at 8.8%. Meanwhile the state’s top-tier personal income and corporate tax rates have been the highest in the southeast.
“I think there is definite correlation between our formerly high tax rates and high unemployment in this state. I want to see North Carolina, not only back in the game for jobs, but winning the game. We will have jobs again because we’ve had leaders who decided to make our tax code more friendly to job creators in the real economy,” said Woodhouse.
For further information or an interview, please contact Dallas Woodhouse at dwoodhouse@afphq.org or (919)671-1050.
Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen-leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and intrusiveness of government is the best way to promote individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org
###
If you wish to send me press releases, please send them to editor@wncreport.com and I will post them here. If you have a photo to accompany the press release, I would appreciate it very much, otherwise I'll choose a photo that I feel fits the organization, press release or event.
Duke Carolinas’ rate request is its third since 2009. Customers will be asked to pay for the $3.8 billion the company has spent since 2011 on new power plants and upgrades to nuclear plants and transmission systems.
While Duke is seeking a 9.7 percent overall increase, most residential customers would pay about 14 percent more. The Utilities Commission has to approve any increase.
In its most recent previous rate case, settled in January 2012, Duke agreed to an increase of less than half the size of its original request.
Duke Carolinas serves 1.9 million customers, mostly in North Carolina’s western half.
Tonight's hearing will start at 7pm on the fourth floor of the Macon County Courthouse.
Be aware that there will be plenty of people present at the Duke Energy Rate Increase public hearing, and, as always, the majority of them will have been fully coached on what to say and how to say it via workshops and Webinars. For example:
Wednesday, May 15, 6:30 pm: How to Tell a Compelling Story. This training by NC WARN organizers will focus on how to tell a compelling story when testifying at upcoming NC Utility Commission public hearings on the Duke Energy rate hike. Use what you learn to speak out for the real public good!
Pat McCrory was sworn in today as the 74th Governor of the State of North Carolina. He becomes only the third Republican elected to that office in North Carolina in more than a century. The swearing in ceremony is posted below:
For more information on the McCrory Administration please visit the Governor's website, which has just become live. **2.36pm** In case WRAL deletes the above video, I have also embedded a video from UNC-TV of the swearing in ceremony below.
One Stop voting started yesterday in North Carolina, and I will be tracking the progress of the voting statistics daily on this blog. I hope it will serve to motivate you to do your civic duty and vote.
Here are the stats from yesterday:
North Carolina
Votes Cast 223,385
By Party
DEM - 105,659 - 47.3%
GOP - 77,677 - 34.77%
UNA - 39,677 - 17.76%
LIB - 382 - 0.17%
Ballot Type
One Stop - 150,872
By Mail - 67,599
Overseas - 2,520
Military - 2,394
11th Congressional District
Votes Cast - 21,888
By Party
DEM - 7,823 - 35.74%
GOP - 9,161 - 41.85%
UNA - 4,863 - 22.22%
LIB - 41 - 0.19%
Ballot Type
One Stop - 15,509
By Mail - 6,138
Overseas - 135
Military - 106
Macon County
Votes Cast - 1,255
By Party
DEM - 371 - 47.3%
GOP - 614 - 34.77%
UNA - 268 - 17.76%
LIB - 2 - 0.16%
Ballot Type
One Stop - 806
By Mail - 440
Overseas - 5
Military - 4
Millshoal Precinct
Votes Cast - 127
By Party
DEM - 38 - 29.92%
GOP - 60 - 47.24%
UNA - 29 - 22.83%
LIB - 0 - 0.00%
Ballot Type
One Stop - 90
By Mail - 37
Overseas - 0
Military - 0
The North Carolina General Assembly [link] has convened for the short session. The NC Senate [link] and the NC House [link] are not scheduled to meet today.
I have posted the calendar of scheduled legislative activity along with links to where you can listen online to our state legislators as they go about their tasks. I do not plan on listening or recording today.
Another good source of live and recorded audio of the NC General Assembly is Voter Radio. Check out their website. [link]
If you experience problems listening to the meetings via the links below, try the North Carolina General Assembly website. [link]
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