RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina lawmakers left some key issues unfinished last year, furnishing a road map for at least some of the business they’ll discuss when a new session starts Wednesday.
Medicaid expansion, which would bring federally funded health insurance to hundreds of thousands of North Carolina’s working poor, has momentum after a breakthrough last year, but there’s no guarantee it will pass.
“In terms of the expansion it does appear to me that we do agree on this that the money isn’t going away at the federal level," NC House Speaker Tim Moore said. "I think the 90-10 match is there and that’s what makes it palpable.”
Measures to OK online sports gambling and medical marijuana that failed to get over the finish line last year will be resurrected as sponsors try again.
The state budget is an annual priority, bringing with it conversations about teacher pay, general education funding and, particularly this year, state employee raises. NC Senator Phil Berger said adopting the state budget is the main business and they plan to follow a formula that has had previous success.
“Keep a good control of the growth of spending at the state level," Berger said. "We’re going to do whatever we can to reduce the tax and regulatory burden on individuals and businesses in North Carolina. We’re probably going to put some money away for a rainy day.”
North Carolina's legislative session will open on Wednesday, Jan. 11 with a Republican majority in both chambers.
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