House Budget Unveiled…Well, Most of It

North Carolina’s state budget is inching closer to completion, as lawmakers in the N.C. House of Representatives began rolling out their spending proposals Thursday morning. Some of the details that might be of the widest public interest — like proposals for tax cuts, or raises for teachers and other state employees — aren’t expected to be announced until next week, however. Lawmakers are discussing some of the other details of the budget, including state spending on everything from criminal justice reform to road construction, education needs to COVID-19 relief and more.

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Federal Infrastructure Bill – How Could NC Benefit?

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has set up a vote on Saturday to end debate on the bipartisan infrastructure bill, teeing up final weekend passage for the $1.2 trillion package at the center of President Biden’s domestic agenda. North Carolina could receive at least $8.7 billion in federal funding over the next five years for highway programs, bridge replacement, public transportation, electric vehicles and broadband internet under the proposed infrastructure bill. The White House released state-by-state estimates Wednesday of money available in the bipartisan agreement. North Carolina Republican Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis are supporting the bill, which is focused on so-called “hard” infrastructure.

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Remembering NC Rep. Jerry Carter

N.C. State Rep. Jerry Carter (R-Rockingham) passed away Tuesday following an extended illness. In July, the Greensboro News & Record reported that Rep. Carter was being treated at Duke University Medical Center for a rare gastrointestinal disorder. Soon after, Carter’s wife, Brenda Bruton Carter, shared on Facebook that her husband had been diagnosed with “Idiopathic Myointimal Hyperplasia of Mesenteric Veins,” or IMHMV. Rep. Carter was a longtime Baptist pastor. A Republican representing Rockingham County, Carter was first elected to the state House in 2018 and won a second two-year term in 2020. He was a Chairman of the House Families, Children and Aging Policy Committee. He served previously in the Army, and as a State Highway Patrol chaplain. On Thursday, Gov. Roy Cooper ordered all United States and North Carolina flags at state facilities to be lowered to half-staff beginning August 5th until sunset August 7th in honor of NC House of Rep. Carter.

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