Raleigh, N.C. – The News & Observer today published an op-ed from Senate Leader Phil Berger. Below are excerpts. Read the full op-ed here.

A column in the News & Observer recently questioned whether North Carolina Republicans possess a governing philosophy.

The Republican philosophy for North Carolina is apparent to any mildly informed observer not predisposed to blind partisanship. After all, we’ve adhered to it for more than a decade.

Our governance is built on the premise that the cumulative decisions of a free people create more wealth, opportunity, and progress than any government bureaucracy or central planning could ever achieve.

From that premise stems our approach to the issues that North Carolinians care about most: taxes, spending, and education.

…

On education, Republicans believe that every child possesses the ability and intellect to create their own success in life. Some children come from wealthy, two-parent households. Some come from poor, broken homes. Many fit somewhere in between. But the circumstances of birth don’t determine innate ability, and each child deserves an equal opportunity to develop their God-given talents via a publicly funded education.

To that end, Republicans created the Opportunity Scholarship program with grants to less fortunate children so they, too, can attend private schools previously reserved for the wealthy if they so choose.