03/28/2024
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Democrats gave away their votes to the Governor so his veto couldn’t be overridden

Funding for Bladen, Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender counties now uncertain, as Cooper refuses to negotiate budget separately from Medicaid ultimatum

Raleigh, N.C. – The legislature passed a bipartisan budget that included more than $98 million for high priority projects in Bladen, Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender counties. Governor Roy Cooper vetoed the budget, including the funding for these counties, because of his Medicaid expansion ultimatum. Cooper refuses to drop the ultimatum, holding up funding for Bladen, Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender Counties over one policy disagreement.

Senator Bill Rabon (R-Brunswick) said, “Governor Cooper is holding hostage millions of dollars in funding for Bladen, Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender counties, simply because the budget does not expand Medicaid to able-bodied, childless adults as he prefers. This is a policy disagreement that can be resolved without holding up a budget that clearly delivers on important priorities for our state and especially for southeastern North Carolina. I urge the governor to drop his Medicaid-or-nothing ultimatum and allow the budget process to move forward.”

Governor Roy Cooper

 

Here are a list of projects for Bladen, Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender counties that are now blocked because of the governor’s veto over Medicaid expansion:

  • Millions of dollars from the Hurricane Florence Disaster Recovery Reserve which would provide crucial funding in the area to help with ongoing recovery efforts from the storm.
  • $8 million for repairs at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington which was damaged by Hurricane Florence.
  • $1 million to the City of Wilmington for a facility disaster hardening project.
  • $1 million to the Wallace Fire Department.
  • Almost $56.5 million in capital funding for local K-12 schools.
  • Over $31.5 million in capital funding for local community colleges.
  • $11 million to raise the power lines across the Cape Fear River near the Wilmington ports.
  • More than $3.1 million to New Hanover County Schools to build a facility to support the expansion of the Southeast Area Technical High School’s innovative curriculum in partnership with Cape Fear Community College.
  • $500,000 for the Telehealth Pilot Project.
  • $250,000 for addiction treatment in county jails.
  • $750,000 to repair and renovate the Pender County Courthouse.
  • $200,000 in a directed grant to the Town of Bladenboro for demolition of buildings owned by the Town that were damaged by Hurricane Florence.
  • $300,000 to the Bladen County Kelly Dike District for engineering and planning for repairs to Kelly Dike, which spans both Bladen and Pender counties.
  • $250,000 for a pilot project to establish a Quick Response Team to address the needs of opiate and heroin overdose victims who are not getting follow-up treatment.
  • $275,000 for the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW) Cameron School of Business for a supply chain procurement initiative.
  • $25,000 to the Pender American Legion Auxiliary Unit #165 for building renovations.
  • $25,000 to Southport for Fire Department equipment.
  • $50,000 to provide assistance dogs for children, veterans, military dependents and civilians living with disabilities.

Voice your opinion about the budget to Gov. Cooper by visiting:

https://governor.nc.gov/contact/contact-governor-cooper

Contact your local Senator:

https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?State=NC

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