The latest Republican backroom budget deals have attracted the expected opposition from Democrats, but even a group of business leaders that includes major Republican donors have come out in opposition to the budget.
“North Carolina Business Leaders” sent a letter Tuesday, Sept. 19 to all the Republicans in the state House asking them to oppose the current Republican budget.
The letter states, “While we applaud the state’s remarkable economic success of the past decade, we believe that the key to sustaining this prosperity lies in a fiscally responsible budget that refrains from allocating funds to NC Innovation, legalizing casinos, or expanding Medicaid.”
The letter is signed by Bob Luddy, CEO of CaptiveAire and Thales Academy & College, Art Pope, CEO Variety Wholesalers, former state budget director and founder of the John Locke Foundation, John Allison, retired CEO of BB&T and retired president and CEO of Cato Institute, Rodney Pitts, chairman of Southern Elevator and E.C. Sykes, general partner of Aslan Ventures.
That is a group of Republican heavyweights that is clearly not happy with the current budget chicanery.
The letter notes that an allocation of $1.4 billion to NCInnovation, a nonprofit organization, “does not align with the principles of free enterprise. Government intervention and support in the technology sector can create market distortions and stifle true innovation.”
The letter urges the Republican representatives “to reconsider including provisions related to legalizing and licensing four casinos in North Carolina. The state budget’s primary purpose is to allocate resources for current operations, and such policy changes only complicate budget negotiations.”
As far as Medicaid expansion is concerned, the letter states, “Government-run or funded healthcare programs can disrupt market dynamics, leading to fewer options for consumers and potentially higher costs for those who choose to remain in the private insurance market. We believe that maintaining minimal government interference in healthcare is essential to preserve the principles of free enterprise and encourage competition and innovation.”
The letter acknowledges that crafting a state budget is a daunting task and adds, “Still, we urge you to prioritize fiscal responsibility and the principles that have contributed to North Carolina’s economic success. We encourage you to expeditiously pass a state budget that excludes funding for NC Innovation, policy changes on casinos, or funding for Medicaid Expansion.”
In the budget document that was circulating on Monday, Sept. 18, both the legislation to expand casino operations in the state and to expand Medicaid had been removed. Reportedly, casinos and Medicaid expansion would both be in one bill. The allocation to NCInnovation had also been reduced to $250 million.
I am a Republican. I believe we need a Constitutional Convention for both the Federal and State Governments. We need Term Limits for all Representatives and Senators, both Federally and State. We need Term Limits for Federal Judges. We need a Constitutional requirement that both Federal and State Governments have a new, approved Budget enacted before the beginning of the new fiscal year, and if that is not accomplished the Congress or Assembly is dissolved and new elections for all positions will be held 45 days later. Career Politicians have and are becoming multi-millionaires while serving as public servants. Career Politicians is obviously not working.
Mark,
You echo what I have said for a long time.
Where do I sign?
Why the Framers Inserted Article V into the US Constitution https://youtu.be/IRDPjQxvXFc
Convention of States in 2 Minutes https://youtu.be/sAEVecIqrns
If our elections were not rigged by the donor class we would not need to talk about term limits, responsible voters would take of that. We need to start with enforcing the Constitution as it is way before talk about changing it.
Good to see the donor class flexing their muscles…the Federal House and Senate have long been obliged to heed the wishes of monied elites and ignore the wishes of simple commoners who make up the electorate. Good to see our State legislators are as equally up to the task of corrupting the democratic institutions they serve.
Govt needs to support free enterprise. What do you think makes our State a destination State? NC is #3 in immigration from Blue States. People want opportunity here, not govt meddling.
I’m a Democrat and I agree with everything you just said