RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — New North Carolina Democratic Gov. Josh Stein gave his first address to a joint General Assembly session Wednesday night, hitting on familiar campaign and early-term themes of helping Hurricane Helene victims, making living expenses affordable and focusing on bipartisan accomplishments.
Stein delivered the biennial State of the State message with a call to legislators in the ninth-largest state to work with him and avoid partisan animosity like what is now in Washington.
“We do not need to be pulled into those political games,” Stein said from the House floor near the close of his 42-minute speech, which was televised statewide. “We can create something better, something forward-looking right here in North Carolina, and we can do it together.”
Stein, the attorney general for the past eight years, was elected governor in November by defeating then-Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson — continuing a trend on Democratic dominance at the Executive Mansion. Republicans have controlled the General Assembly since 2011, but now they are one seat shy of holding a veto-proof majority.
Stein’s speech emphasized finding areas where he and Republicans can agree.
Hurricane Helene relief
Stein kept Helene recovery a top priority, as it has been since before he was sworn in on Jan. 1. He has made several visits to the mountains, where last fall’s historic flooding led to over 100 deaths and close to $60 billion in damages and recovery needs. Stein highlighted repairs so far but also outstanding needs.
The governor asked lawmakers to send him quickly a bill for additional Helene relief that he will be ready to sign — even though competing measures written by House and Senate Republicans would provide roughly half of the nearly $1.1 billion that he requested last month.
House Speaker Destin Hall said this week there are differences to negotiate with the Senate over aid for agricultural losses and whether the package should include funds for delayed housing repairs in eastern North Carolina from past hurricanes. The final package also should include money to help local governments rebuild infrastructure for small businesses.
Stein and legislators anticipate even more Helene spending later this year.
“People need to get back in their homes. Roads and bridges need to be fixed. Businesses need to keep their doors open and their employees hired,” Stein told lawmakers. “We need that money now. Heck, we needed it yesterday.”
Washington on Stein’s radar
The whirlwind of activity originating from President Donald Trump’s administration and Congress served as a backdrop for some of Stein’s speech.
While a frequent critic of Trump, Stein pointed out how he was working with Trump, his Cabinet and the state’s congressional delegation to locate billions in additional dollars for Helene assistance.
The governor also urged Republicans to join him in protecting Medicaid from any potential cuts by Congress, pointing out that the two parties joined together in passing a 2023 law expanding Medicaid to hundreds of thousands of adults.
What’s next for Stein?
Stein’s next big reveal likely will be his state government spending proposal for the two years that begin July 1.
Stein’s proposal will reflect a new forecast that warns tax cuts already on the books and taking effect soon could lower overall state revenues by $825 million from the next fiscal year to the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
Stein said Wednesday the state can’t locate all the funds to help residents with necessities like affordable housing and child care or middle-class tax cuts that he seeks if planned corporate tax cuts and individual tax cuts for the highest wage earners are allowed to occur.
“So what is it going to be?” Stein asked. “Are we going to give money to out of state shareholders, or invest in North Carolina families? We cannot afford to do both.”
Republicans, who will pass their own budget legislation and present it to Stein, have downplayed the forecast shortfall, saying previous income-tax reductions have boosted the state’s economy and fiscal picture overall.
Gary D. Robertson, The Associated Press
