VOLUME 8 ISSUE 12
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WWW.NSJONLINE.COM
WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 2023
PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Gov. Roy Cooper stamps “veto” on SB 20 during a rally at Bicentennial Plaza in Raleigh, on May 13, 2023.
the
Cooper vetoes abortion bill, legislators vow override
BRIEF this week
Nonprofit would see substantial funding from proposed Senate budget Raleigh NCInnovation, a nonprofit led by prominent executives to promote regional innovation networks connecting the state’s research universities, industry partners and the private sector, stands to receive a significant boost in the proposed Senate budget that was unveiled Monday. The funding would be available for drawdown and includes substantial reporting requirements and clawback provisions. The group says it has already raised more than $23 million in the past two years to fund its staff, overhead and expenses. That would allow nearly all state funding would go to NCInnovation’s core activities, such as commercializing applied research and creating more companies that stay in the state long-term. NSJ STAFF
House Oversight panel finds millions in suspicious payments to Biden family Washington, D.C. House Republicans have detailed what they say are concerning new findings about President Joe Biden’s family and their finances. The smoking gun, according to the GOP, is recently obtained financial records connected to the president’s son Hunter Biden, brother James Biden and a growing number of associates who received millions of dollars in payments from foreign entities in China and Romania. The GOP panel’s members relied on more than 150 suspicious activity reports as a roadmap to follow what they call the Bidens’ complicated financial money trail. The confidential reports, called SARs for short, are transactions automatically flagged to the government with larger financial transactions. The filing of a SARs report is not evidence on its own of misconduct. But Rep. James Comer, the committee’s chairman leading the probe, said that other types of financial records obtained through congressional subpoenas and lawsuits have now become the focus of their investigation. The White House dismissed the whole investigation as “yet another political stunt.” THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
By A.P. Dillon North State Journal
Another member of the State Board of Education departs Member Amy White has continued to serve past her term’s end date and will be retiring By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — At the close of the State Board of Education’s May 4 meeting, member Amy White announced her intention to resign her seat. White called her service on the board “one of the highlights of my 30-year career of advocacy for students and families across the state of North Carolina.” “While I could continue to serve in this position until Gov. (Roy) Cooper’s newest appointee is confirmed by both houses of the General Assembly, I have made the decision to announce today my retirement of service to the board to refocus my passion my energy and my time
on the Christian Ministry that I lead,” White told the board members. White is the executive director of Community of Hope Ministries and she co-chairs the board’s Education Innovation and Charter Schools committee. Board Chairman Eric Davis expressed shock at the announcement. “Well, Ms. White, let me just say — that’s a stunner. We were not expecting that,” Davis said. “And yet many of us can share many of the feelings you’ve just expressed of the rewards and challenges of serving on this board.” Davis also told White she had been a “marvelous member” of the board and that the board will celebrate her service during the June meeting. White is the second member and Republican to resign from See SBE, page A2
ly varied from 300 to up to 1,000 as reported by Raleigh outlet ABC 11. Signs printed with the slogans “my RALEIGH — At a “veto rally” body, my choice,” and “abortion is held in Raleigh on the day before health care” were seen among the crowd. Mother’s Day, North Pro-life supporters Carolina Democratic from the NC Values Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed Coalition and Susan a bill that reduces the “Governor B. Anthony Pro-Life state’s elective abortion America groups held limit from 20 weeks Cooper has a counterrally across down to 12. spent the past the street from the BiThe bill is Senate Bill week, including centennial Mall where 20, the Care for Women, the rally was being Children, and Families Mother’s Day held. Act. In addition to re- weekend, Before Cooper took ducing the elective aborthe stage, various tion timeframe, the bill spreading speakers talked before maintains exceptions misinformation the governor, includfor the life of the mother, ing leaders of Planned fetal anomalies, incest about SB 20 Parenthood South Atand rape. in an effort to lantic and the Black Included in the bill frighten voters Abortion Defense are multiple items to League, as well as Atsupport women and and appease torney General Josh families totaling more campaign Stein, a Democrat than $180 million: $75 running for governor million to expand access donors.” in 2024. to child care, almost $59 Upon taking the million for foster care, House Speaker stage, Cooper renewed more than $16 million his calls to pressure that includes federal Tim Moore four legislators to upmatching funds to reduce infant and maternal mortality, hold his veto. “If just one Republican in either and $20 million to pay for maternity and paternity leave for teachers the House or the Senate keeps a and state employees. Crowd estimates for Cooper’s ral- See ABORTION, page A8
NC Senate unveils its budget proposal with faster tax cuts, restrained spending Business and economic development see over $1.4B investment By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — At a press conference held on May 15, North Carolina Senate Republican leaders unveiled its budget proposal which maintains the same spending level as the version in the House - $29.8 billion for the fiscal year starting July 1 and $30.9 billion the following fiscal year. In comparison, Gov. Roy Cooper’s budget proposal spends over $3 billion more than the nearly $61 billion two-year budget proposed by lawmakers.
The conference was led by Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) and included Senate Appropriations Chairs Sen. Brent Jackson (R-Sampson), Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell) and Sen. Michael Lee (R-New Hanover). “This is a strong budget that addresses our state’s needs without breaking the bank,” Jackson said in a joint press release. “We increase spending where it is needed, bolster our reserves in light of economic uncertainty, and give money back to the hardworking people of North Carolina.” “What we have been doing has been working, and this budget is largely a continuation of the responsible spending that has gotten us to where we are today,” said Hise.
Business and economic development is a centerpiece of the Senate’s proposal with $1.425 billion going to the nonprofit NCInnovation; a group established to advance and commercialize applied research at NC universities. Former Truist Bank CEO Kelly King chairs the organization. Cooper and House leaders included only $50 million for NCInnovation’s work. “I’m grateful to North Carolina’s legislators for their many months of work,” King said in a statement on the budget proposal. “NCInnovation’s model will be a game-changer for North Carolina, especially our rural areas that have the human talent but need support See TAX CUTS, page A2
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