Governor Roy Cooper has vetoed the state budget presented him by the North Carolina General Assembly.

 

“The Republican legislature’s budget keeps income tax breaks for corporations and families making over $200,000 a year instead of investing in education,” Governor Cooper said.

 

Among the reasons cited by the governor for his veto: 

 

New protections for clean drinking water were rolled back 

Legislation was added protecting the I-77 toll lanes contract, prohibiting changes without legislative approval

$50 million in federal funding for early childhood education was redirected 

No funding for the state’s Suicide Prevention Hotline 

The Infant Screening Fee, a birth tax on new mothers, was tripled

New funding for school supplies was provided to districts with Republicans at risk of losing their elections instead of to teachers across the state in the form of a school supply stipend

Opportunities for transformative light rail transportation projects that would help with economic development were squashed

A plan to expand Medicaid and close the health care coverage gap at no additional cost to the state was rejected

A measure that was included would allow cities to raise taxes to establish charter schools 

 

“This budget has the wrong priorities and is irresponsible. It values tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy at the expense of public education not only this year, but for years to come,” Gov. Cooper said.