In a move that's sure to ripple through the political waters of North Carolina, Governor Josh Stein has put his gubernatorial weight behind two pieces of legislation, while squashing a third with his veto power. In his recent actions, Stein approved House Bill 125, which outlines the state's budget, and Senate Bill 55, aimed at protecting property rights; however, he rejected House Bill 87, a bill concerning school choice and federal tax credits.
Governor Stein, addressing his mixed reception of House Bill 125, highlighted the bill's shortcomings, “This Band-Aid budget fails to invest in our teachers and students, fails to keep families safe, fails to value hardworking state employees, and fails to fully fund health care,” he said, according to a statement obtained by the Governor's Office. However, he conceded that signing it was necessary to “keep the lights on,” despite the bill's inadequacies and looming federal cuts that could make a $319 million slash to Medicaid “particularly painful.” Governor Stein's budgetary assent comes with a clear message to the General Assembly: do more for the people of North Carolina.
Senate Bill 55 found favor with the Governor due to its focus on property owners' rights. The bill, now law, disregards an earlier proposal related to regulating puppy mills, a move Stein found commendable. “I’m pleased the legislature has improved this bill by removing the problematic puppy mill provision and concentrating on protecting property owners from squatters,” Stein detailed in the Governor's Office official statement.
House Bill 87 faced a different fate, as the Governor vetoed the school choice-focused bill, citing a mismatch with his vision for North Carolina's public education. Stein condemned the idea of siphoning public education funds to profit private institutions, stating, “School choice is good for students and parents, and I have long supported magnet and accountable charter schools because public schools open doors of opportunity for kids in every county of the state.” Stein elucidated that instead of such drastic measures, a federal scholarship donation tax credit program could be more beneficial, “once the federal government issues sound guidance,” as reported by the Governor's Office. Despite this, he deemed HB 87 “unnecessary,” and hence, it was vetoed.
These legislative decisions by Governor Stein send a clear signal about his priorities: maintaining essential state functions, even with imperfect legislation, protecting property rights of the citizens, and committing to the public school system while remaining open to federal support that aligns with his educational values.
