Sen. Berger Urges Gov. Cooper To Drop Budget Medicaid Expansion Ultimatum Print
State Government
By Donna Martinez   
Friday, 19 July 2019 08:52

Senator Pro Tempore Phil Berger issued the following statement:

"The time for Governor Cooper to talk about the budget was last month, when I personally handed him my opening offers on nearly all of the priorities he discussed today and asked for a counter offer. He refused to give one and instead blocked teacher and state employee raises, rape kit testing, and school construction funding over his Medicaid ultimatum.

"Governor Cooper has held the entire budget hostage over Medicaid expansion. If a veto override fails, we have a spending plan based on last year's appropriations. At that point, the Governor can explain to voters why he blocked $24 billion over one policy disagreement. We can discuss a budget once he's dropped his ultimatum."