Under the Dome Updates: A Medicaid expansion deal after years of talks
Republican leaders have a breakthrough on Medicaid expansion. That’s our biggest story Thursday, but there’s much more happening in state politics.
12:40 p.m.: Call for higher teacher pay
The State Board of Education unanimously passed a motion Thursday calling for the state to raise pay in excess of 10% for all teachers.
The motion also calls for investments in beginning teacher pay to make North Carolina the leader in teacher pay in the southeastern United States.
When adjusted for cost-of-living, the average teacher pay in North Carolina is $58,658, according to figures cited by Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt. That’s well below most states in the Southeast.
It’s even worse for beginning teacher pay, where the state’s cost-of-living adjusted pay of $39,695 is the lowest in the region, according to the data.
“You can’t have quality education without having quality teachers, and you’re not going to have quality teachers if you don’t have quality pay,” said GOP Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a member of the state board. “That’s the bottom line.”
12:25 p.m.: Medicaid expansion deal reached
House and Senate Republicans have agreed to pass Medicaid expansion, a priority of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper since he took office in 2017.
Cooper called the new Medicaid expansion agreement “a monumental step.”
Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore announced the deal between their two caucuses at a press conference. It did not involve the governor, who would like to see it happen sooner than in Republican leaders’ plans.
Moore and Berger were planning to meet with Cooper later on Thursday.
Medicaid expansion would provide health insurance coverage to about 500,000 more North Carolinians.
The bill will reduce some, but not all, of the health care regulations targeted by members of the Senate. Among other changes, it would eliminate the “certificate of need” process for beds in behavioral health facilities and chemical dependency facilities, Berger said.
10:10 a.m.: Robinson to give response to Cooper
Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson will give the Republican rebuttal to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s State of the State speech on Monday night before a joint session of the General Assembly.
In the past, Senate leader Phil Berger has given the speech when it’s the Senate’s turn to give the response.
Robinson is a rising star in the GOP who rose to prominence with a fiery gun rights speech and became well-known outside political circles for his comments disparaging LGBTQ people. He is expected to run for governor in 2024 to succeed Cooper.
9:45 a.m.: Highlights from Wednesday and plans for Thursday
Once might be a coincidence. But now Republican state senators have twice voted on a medical marijuana bill exactly at 4:20 p.m.
The “Compassionate Care Act” passed 36-10 for the second time at that auspicious time for the bill. It now goes to the House.
Thursday is known as Legislative Friday because seldom are there votes or committee meetings on Fridays. This Thursday is no exception. And there are no House or Senate votes planned for the day, either. However the morning is filled with various committee meetings.
This story was originally published March 2, 2023 at 10:26 AM with the headline "Under the Dome Updates: A Medicaid expansion deal after years of talks."