SB 153 is a right-wing bill that would burden local law enforcement, infringe on the rights of local governments, and further empower ICE to perform unconstitutional raids on North Carolina communities.
“FEMA’s denial of our appeal will cost North Carolina taxpayers potentially hundreds of millions of dollars to clean up out west,” Stein explained. “The money we have to pay toward debris removal will mean less money toward supporting our small businesses, rebuilding downtown infrastructure, repairing our water and sewer systems, and other critical needs.”
“If Congress goes forward with these plans, our state will be forced into perilous budget decisions – should North Carolinians lose access to food, or should we get rid of other essential services?” Gov. Stein wrote. “I urge our members of Congress to reject this budget proposal so that North Carolina families don’t go hungry.”
The 10 richest U.S. billionaires increased their collective net worth by $365 billion over the past year. It would take a median worker more than 726,000 years to earn that amount. If those gains were taxed as regular income, they would owe $135 billion in federal taxes.
Advocates and North Carolinians are calling on representatives, including Senator Thom Tillis, who previously voted to roll back big bank regulations, to center the needs of their constituents over billionaires.
These, and many more, democratic bills that aim to improve and protect the lives of North Carolinians, moved nowhere this session. Of the 1,800 bills filed by legislators from both parties in both chambers this year, only a select few bills from democrats had their time in front of legislators.
Stein called the legislation a “threat to democracy,” suing to block both sections of the bill. Both suits are pending in state courts, but in the meantime, the North Carolina State Board of Elections is under new Republican leadership.
As in Congress, the push for Medicaid work requirements in NC is seen as a way for Republican leaders to consolidate support within their party—even if it risks cutting off coverage for thousands of residents.
Republicans in the state Senate have unanimously passed SB 50, “Freedom to Carry NC.” SB 50 is now in the House, where it has not yet been heard by a committee. However, the House has its own version of the bill: HB 5, “NC Constitutional Carry Act”. Despite public opposition, Republicans are standing behind the bills, a move that Representative Phil Rubin (D-Wake) says spells trouble for democracy in the state.
Leaders of the minority party have expressed broader frustration with the budget process, saying they’ve been granted almost no input. And they remain skeptical about Republicans’ confidence to finish negotiations by the end of June.