Source: WUNC
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein didn’t get the pomp and circumstance normally reserved for a new governor because an impending winter storm canceled most of the planned events — but that didn’t stop Stein from laying out his vision for the future to North Carolinians.
Stein’s inaugural address, which would normally be held outside with thousands of supporters, was held inside at the old state Capitol building in downtown Raleigh and only included a small group of family, friends and staff.
In his address, Stein called on Republican lawmakers to work with him on some of the most important issues facing the state such as education, Helene recovery in western North Carolina and combating fentanyl abuse. The governor said he’s willing to work with Republicans to make progress on these issues. Notably, the GOP lost their veto-proof supermajority in the legislature. As Stein pointed out, they will need to show some bipartisanship if they truly want to help their constituents.
“To the members of the General Assembly I say, let’s work together,” Stein said. “We have real problems to solve, and we do not have time to settle petty political scores or fight divisive culture wars. I want to stand with you as we fight for our people, not with each other. No party has all the answers. Good ideas do not come with party labels.”
The governor didn’t mention any specific new policy proposals, but did note that he had already enacted five executive orders focused on speeding up Helene recovery in our mountain communities. Helene recovery was a major feature of his 15-minute speech.
“We must overcome the unprecedented storm that ravaged our state and the everyday struggles that impact our neighbors, and we will,” he said. “After all, here in North Carolina, we have overcome fires and floods, poverty and plagues, recessions and racial segregation.”
Stein also called for the legislature to pass teacher raises, properly fund the state’s public schools, and to work on improving career education and apprenticeship programs.
Stein’s address put a focus on what lawmakers can accomplish while working together and not on the controversial actions the right-wing legislature has taken on important matters like taxpayer-funded private school vouchers, immigration enforcement, gambling, medical cannabis and, of course, abortion and reproductive rights.
The governor referenced past bipartisan cooperation between governors and the legislature, including Republican Gov. Jim Holshouser’s collaboration with the Democratic legislature to create free public kindergarten and Gov. Roy Cooper’s work with Republicans that finally got them on board to expand Medicaid to 600,000 more North Carolinians.
“We have worked across the aisle together for the good of our people before,” Stein said. “Let’s do it again.”
Stein’s office said they hope to reschedule a public block party and several other canceled events. The traditional inaugural ball will now be held on April 5.
According to WUNC, North Carolina hasn’t held the usual inaugural events since Gov. Pat McCrory began his term in 2013. Like Stein’s festivities, Cooper’s first inauguration was scaled back because of a winter storm in 2017, and COVID-19 restrictions limited Cooper’s 2021 inauguration.
