2024 NASW-NC Legislative Session Update: Week 26-Two Different Budgets
Monday, June 24, 2024
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Posted by: Lauren Zingraff
Two Different BudgetsWith each legislative chamber uninterested in hearing the other’s spending proposal, North Carolina lawmakers look ready to go on hiatus after next week while a stalemate simmers between Republicans over how to adjust the current two-year state budget. “Perhaps during this summertime with a lot of heat, maybe a little cooling off might be a good thing,” House Speaker Tim Moore told colleagues Thursday after the full House gave final approval to its $31.7 billion plan for state government spending starting with the new fiscal year July 1. But the Senate has signaled no interest in considering the measure, which passed the House 68-36 after a similar initial affirmative vote Wednesday night. Senate GOP leaders instead advanced earlier Thursday their own $31.4 billion plan through a budget committee. Their measure contains 240 fewer pages than the House bill, omits scores of House provisions and declines to raise teacher and state worker salaries beyond what the enacted two-year plan already directs for the next 12 months. Senate leader Phil Berger has expressed frustration with House counterparts over their higher spending levels and liberal use of reserve funds. Berger said later Thursday that his chamber plans to hold perfunctory floor sessions after the end of the month, then wait to see if continuing conversations lead to the House agreeing on a plan more to the Senate’s liking. “We’ll roll into the new fiscal year,” Berger told reporters. “If they at whatever point decide to get serious about the spending number, we are willing, able and ready to go.” But he acknowledged it’s possible no agreement is ever reached. Moore said there are also no plans to hear the Senate budget bill, which is supposed to get a full Senate vote early next week. He accused senators of giving up on negotiations that he said had brought the two sides much closer. “What I got was the Senate just kind of moving on out there and filing their own bill without any consultation or notice from the House, and we will not respond well to negotiation tactics like that,” Moore said. Having a two-year budget already in place eases the pressure upon legislators to hammer out alterations quickly. But the impasse increases risks for Republicans that two key provisions important to families that the chambers largely agree upon could be left behind. Both the House and Senate budget versions contain $487 million for programs that help K-12 students attend private schools and eliminate large program waiting lists now and for the future. Most of the money would go toward the state’s Opportunity Scholarships, which experienced a sharp increase in applications because family income limits for recipients were eliminated in last year’s budget. And the two chambers also support giving roughly $135 million to replace most of the money coming from the federal government for child care center grants that will expire in July. “Republican legislators have proposed two terrible budgets that steal billions in taxpayer money from public schools and child care to pay for private school vouchers millionaires will use,” Cooper wrote Thursday on X. He can veto legislation but Republican legislators hold enough seats to override any veto if they remain united. The General Assembly convened this year’s primary work session in late April, but there’s no set session end date. So two chambers have the flexibility to return later in the summer for more business before adjourning permanently. (Source: AP) From the Office of the Governor: Governor Roy Cooper vetoed the following bill: Governor Cooper made the following statement on his veto of HB 237: "This legislation creates a gaping loophole for secret, unlimited campaign money in the middle of an election year. While voters are kept in the dark, this scheme allows anonymous out-of-state billionaires to flood North Carolina with campaign contributions to rescue extreme right-wing candidates that Republicans now fear will lose. The legislation also removes protections and threatens criminal charges for people who want to protect their health by wearing a mask." Governor Roy Cooper signed the following bills into law: Governor Cooper made the following statement on his signing of SB 124: “This bipartisan legislation is an important step to provide necessary protections for North Carolinians and helps ensure that residents across the state are protected from unethical businesses which prey upon vulnerable people, particularly after storms when they need help the most.” Bills to Watch: SB 718, Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact Click Here to Access NASW-NC Social Work Compact bill webpage! UPDATE: Rhode Island is now the 18th state to pass the Social Work Interstate Licensing Compact Bill into law on June 12, 2024! NASW-NC holds in-person meetings with NCGA legislators & staff weekly during short session around passage of SB 718! The Social Work Interstate Licensing Compact Bill has been signed into law in the seven states required for the Compact Commission to be established! The first bill to pass the legislation was Missouri on July 7, 2023. The other bills where it is law are South Dakota, Washington State, Utah, Kentucky, Virginia, Kansas, Nebraska, Vermont, Iowa, Maine, Georgia, Alabama, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Minnesota and Colorado. Thank you to the NASW chapters who took the lead in each of the states that have both ratified and introduced the compact in each of these states. Additional states will be able to join the Compact Commission as soon as the legislation is passed in their state. The legislation has been introduced in 19 other states, including here in North Carolina. Senate Bill 718-Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact was introduced during the NC General Assembly Long Session in 2023 and is currently in the Rules Committee. NASW-NC has been working all year to ensure the Social Work Licensure Bill is passed during the short session which begins on April 24, 2024. Please be on the lookout for Advocacy Alerts & updates from us on how you can help us reach out to your legislators at the right time to help get it passed. You can learn more about the Compact Bill by reading the NASW Press Release. H1056, PA Licensure Interstate Compact Should this bill become law, it would make North Carolina a member of the Physicians Assistant (PA) Licensure Compact, affording PAs in this state the ability to practice in any state within the Compact. This bill passed the House and its first reading in the Senate on June 13.
The Caravan for Disability Freedom and Justice is a collective of people with disabilities, and our allies, who have been driving across America, visiting a number of cities including many that are important to our disability rights movement, to illustrate how far we’ve come in our fight for inclusion and freedom, and how much more must happen. Join DRNC in welcoming them to North Carolina! These are great opportunities to learn about disability rights and build the disability community. (Source: DisabilityRightsNC) From NC Budget & Tax Center A change to our state Constitution to cap income taxes may sound like a good idea, but we know it's a wolf in sheep's clothing. The reality is that the wealthy and profitable corporations stand to benefit, and we won't have the public money for public programs and services that provide access to opportunity for all while we foot the bill in the form of increased sales and property taxes, and even fees to make up for that lost revenue. Our public schools and our childcare system are in a world of hurt, and our public infrastructure is crumbling under the weight of underfunding. If this amendment is enacted, future lawmakers will have to resort to more taxes and fees that fall disproportionately on North Carolinians who have low incomes, who are Black, indigenous, and other people of color, and who live in rural communities. Having an adequate and fair tax code that provides enough public money for our public schools, child care system, and all other public institutions benefits our families, our local businesses, and our economy. Contact your NC lawmaker and tell them to VOTE NO on constitutional amendments that will further limit our state’s revenue and our collective future! Contact your lawmaker now! June is #PrideMonth
- The Stonewall Uprising took place early morning on June 28, 1969 when police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar known as a safe place for LGBTQIA+ individuals. The raid sparked riots, six days of protests, and clashes with police. Although the uprising was not the start of the LGBTQIA+ movement, it was seen as a critical moment and spark in the movement. The Stonewall Inn is still open today in New York City and is a national monument!
- One year after the Stonewall Uprising, cities nationwide held what were considered to be the first Pride parades. These parades, called gay liberation marches, were commemorative, but also protests. The marches drew the presence of thousands of people, police resistance, and media coverage. This became a way for people to show their pride while continuing to fight for LGBTQIA+ rights. These parades and marches still live on today!
- One of the most popular ways to celebrate Pride is to attend a Pride parade or a festival! Each year there are hundreds of parades in various cities across the country! New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston are just some of the cities known for their celebrations! Find one near you to show your support for the LGBTQIA+ movement and to honor the history of Pride marches.
- The U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states on June 26, 2015. This was a monumental moment for the LGBTQIA+ community. The Court’s ruling means that states can no longer deny same-sex marriages and must recognize their unions. Love wins!
(Source: DoSomething)
Upcoming NASW-NC Opportunities: NASW-NC 2024 Essentials on Aging ConferenceOlder & Wiser: Social Work Approaches to the Modern Aging Era Join NASW North Carolina for our Essentials Conference on Aging being held virtually on August 7, 2024. The conference theme is “Older & Wiser: Social Work Approaches to the Modern Aging Era”.
Today, one in five North Carolinians are aged 65 and older. As North Carolina's Aging population continues to rapidly grow, social workers must be prepared to effectively support the aging population, as well as learn to navigate their own aging journey and those in their families and communities. This conference brings together a variety of aging experts to delve into the multifaceted areas of aging impacting our society today and explore the challenges and opportunities social workers may face with serving older adults. We will explore the topics of Kinship Care (grandparents raising grandchildren), navigating Dementia, Solo Aging, and End-of-life Care and the grief process. Everyone is aging, and it is never too early to educate ourselves on critical topics that will impact our lives at some point on the aging journey. Wednesday, August 7, 2024 Virtual on Zoom 8:15am - 5:15pm EST 8 Hours of CE Registration Fees: NASW Members $125 $75
Not yet a member? $200 $150
NASW members from other states can contact education.naswnc@socialworkers.org for assistance in registering.
Take advantage of the Early Bird Discount! Register before July 12, 2024 and receive $50 off!!! Thank you to the members of NASW-NC for supporting the advocacy work we do. We would not be able to advocate for the social work profession or social justice issues in North Carolina without a robust and engaged NASW membership. If you are a social worker and not a member, we ask that you join NASW today. Our voice is louder with your membership. Learn more about NASW-NC membership here.
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