Forty-six days ago, Governor Cooper proposed a balanced budget comprise. Since then, Republicans have been pointing fingers and creating new ways to avoid negotiation.
Their latest idea involves a series of mini budgets and a so-called refund that would continue to starve public education for the resources our students need. Republicans have consistently shortchanged education, and now, rather than investing tax over collections into our schools, they’re doubling down on the last few years. From today’s editorial from WRAL:
“When it comes to North Carolina’s budget surplus, here are some numbers the legislature’s leadership doesn’t want you to understand:
- $17,680 a day – That’s the per diem ($104 to every member of the General Assembly) we spend while Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore procrastinate to block a vote sustaining Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of the state budget.
- 34 cents a day – That’s what each taxpayer gets (if extended over a year) under the $640 million scheme Berger and Moore announced to send 5.1 million taxpayers checks for $125.
- $5.6 million -- That’s the ADDED COST Berger and Moore didn’t mention to do all this. It takes $2.8 million to process the checks and another $2.8 million for first-class postage.
….
Now it’s time to tell our legislators what IS the best use for this surplus. There are better and higher uses for that money.
...
Here’s some guidance as to what that money might do:
- Eliminate the waiting list and make Pre-K education available to all eligible
- Expand Medicaid to the more than 500,000 working North Carolinians who are now denied coverage.
- Meet the State Constitution’s right to “quality” public schools.
- Improve conditions in our state’s prisons so they are safe places for those who work there and secure for the public.
- Provide financing to make sure the public schools our children attend are places where they can learn and their teachers have the resources to be effective educators.”
Instead of coming up with new ways to avoid compromising, Republican legislators should come to the table and negotiate with Governor Cooper. Where is the Republican counteroffer?
Governor Cooper’s compromise offer can be found HERE. It would close the health care coverage gap, raise teacher pay, cut taxes for people and guarantee school construction while balancing the budget and saving money in the Rainy Day Fund.
###
|
Instead of coming up with new ways to avoid compromising, Republican legislators should come to the table and negotiate with Governor Cooper. Where is the Republican counteroffer? |
|
Governor Cooper’s compromise offer can be found HERE. It would close the health care coverage gap, raise teacher pay, cut taxes for people and guarantee school construction while balancing the budget and saving money in the Rainy Day Fund.
### |