Today marks 31 days since Governor Roy Cooper and Democratic leaders proposed a detailed budget compromise. Since then, Republican leaders have refused to make a counteroffer, instead attempting to bribe legislators for their votes, threatening local funding for communities, and engaging in finger-pointing and political blame games.
This week, House Democratic Leader Darren Jackson joined 50 other House Democrats in a letter to Representative Moore and Senator Berger affirming their opposition to the GOP budget and urging Republicans to join Governor Cooper at the negotiating table. From their letter:
We are committed to sustaining Governor Roy Cooper’s veto of the State Budget. The votes are not there to override and staying in session for weeks waiting for Democrats to miss votes because of illness or family and work obligations ins a waste of taxpayer dollars and disrespectful to the voters who elected Governor Cooper and this more balanced General Assembly.
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Our hope is that you will reconsider and join Governor Cooper and our leadership at the negotiating table. As written, the State Budget does not do enough to help our public schools or all public employees and it does nothing to close the health care coverage gap.
Read House Democrats letter HERE.
It is abundantly clear that the GOP budget does not have the support necessary to become law. The Governor and Democratic leaders made a specific compromise offer and are ready to negotiate with every issue on the table.
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.