On March 23rd, Republican leadership joined Democrats at the Governor’s mansion to celebrate the long overdue passage of Medicaid expansion—promising to (finally) deliver access to affordable healthcare to 600,000 North Carolinians upon the adoption of a state budget.

Seven months later, Republicans have broken that promise by refusing to pass a state budget. They are cynically using health care as a political bargaining chip to force passage of a casino bill developed in secret and written by casino lobbyists.  It gives one company a monopoly and no opportunity for local citizens to vote on whether they want a casino.

Republican leaders are gambling with our healthcare and our future.

At the same time, we are now 78 days into the fiscal year and we do not have a budget.  That means our families and our communities don’t have the support they need to increase public safety. That means our children do not have the teachers, nurses and bus drivers needed to help them learn. It means our hardworking state employees don’t have the raises needed to keep pace with inflation.  

Enough is enough.  We the undersigned members of the House Democratic Caucus reject this kind of politics.  We are writing this letter to let Republican leadership—and the public—know we will not be bullied into blindly supporting this bill.

It’s time to stop playing politics with people’s lives.

To date Republican leadership has not engaged in good faith negotiations with our leadership. If that changes, we stand ready to pass a budget that meets the needs of North Carolinians.

Sincerely,

Leader Robert T. Reives, II

Deputy Leader Ashton Wheeler Clemmons

Rep. Eric Ager

Rep. Vernetta Alston

Rep. John Autry

Rep. Cynthia Ball

Rep. Amber M. Baker

Rep. Mary Belk

Rep. Gloristine Brown

Rep. Kanika Brown

Rep. Terry M. Brown, Jr.

Rep. Allen Buansi

Rep. Laura Budd

Rep. Deb Butler

Rep. Becky Carney

Rep. Maria Cervania

Rep. Sarah Crawford

Rep. Allison A. Dahle

Rep. Terence Everitt

Rep. Rosa U. Gill

Rep. Wesley Harris

Rep. Pricey Harrison

Rep. Zack Hawkins

Rep. Frances Jackson

Rep. Joe John

Rep. Abe Jones

Rep. Ya Liu

Rep. Brandon Lofton

Rep. Carolyn G. Logan 

Rep. Tim Longest

Rep. Nasif Majeed

Rep. Marcia Morey

Rep. Lindsey Prather

Rep. Renee A. Price

Rep. Amos L. Quick, III

Rep. James Roberson

Rep. Caleb Rudow

Rep. Charles Smith

Rep. Diamond Staton-Williams

Rep. Julie von Haefen