Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley has spent much of the past year supporting policies that benefited major pharmaceutical and oil companies. At the same time, North Carolina families faced rising costs for prescriptions, gas, and everyday essentials.
Republicans often equate the raw cost of Medicaid with waste and abuse, a dangerous oversimplification for families whose healthcare needs are both genuine and extremely expensive.
“Reliable high-speed internet opens doors of opportunity, helps businesses grow, connects people with health care, and strengthens our economy,” said Stein. “These new projects will move us ever closer to connecting every household and community in the state with broadband.”
Key measures of Stein’s budget include raising starting teacher pay to the highest in the Southeast, providing meaningful tax relief to working families, and investing in public safety, education, child care, workforce development, and health care.
The website compiles those connections and highlights nearly 40 elected officials who have been linked to West through party leadership roles, fundraising events, or campaign activity.
“Investing in rural infrastructure unlocks opportunity,” said Stein. “When we strengthen rural North Carolina, we empower local economies, we connect our people to critical services, and we ensure that no matter where someone lives, we offer them a fair shot at success.”
The focus of the march is to hold state Republican lawmakers accountable for failing to fully invest in public education, as shown by the absence of a state budget and the dismissal of Leandro by the state’s highest court.
Duke Energy is continuing its push for higher electricity rates in North Carolina, with a new request filed last week to increase customer bills in order to cover rising fuel and power costs.
Financial disclosures show that Whatley has earned over $219,660 from investments tied to oil and gas companies, including ConocoPhillips, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Devon Energy, and Shell. His total holdings in the sector are valued at up to $1.39 million.
Despite repeated pleas from North Carolina Governor Josh Stein to pass a much-needed budget, Republican leaders House Speaker Destin Hall and Senate leader Phil Berger have been in a standoff over budget proposals, leaving state agencies, state workers, teachers, students, and residents facing rising costs.