Disir
Platinum Member
- Sep 30, 2011
- 28,003
- 9,609
RALEIGH
N.C. Senate leader Phil Berger is defending Republican legislators’ controversial 3 a.m. move to strip funding from several education programs in counties represented by Democrats. He argues that the change was necessary to address the state’s opioid epidemic without raising taxes.
The budget amendment was passed moments after it was introduced early Friday morning, following a two-hour Senate recess called when GOP leaders became visibly upset with Democrats for prolonging the budget debate with amendments.
[At 3 a.m., NC Senate GOP strips education funding from Democrats’ districts]
The amendment added about $1 million to programs addressing opioid addiction. The extra money came from cuts to two early college high schools in rural northeastern North Carolina and a summer science, math and technology program for disadvantaged high school students. The amendment also cut a position in the governor’s office and eliminated funding for a program that provides fresh produce in food deserts.
The move made national headlines and prompted criticism from Democrats, who say the amendment was an attempt to retaliate against them.
On Tuesday, Berger issued a statement about the amendment – his first public comment on the issue.
“This amendment helped address, without raising taxes, the opioid crisis that Sen. (Paul) Lowe tried to address with a large tax increase in his amendment,” Berger said in an email.
Read more here: Berger defends 3 a.m. budget changes that cut education in Democrats’ districts
Whole lot of drama going on right there.
N.C. Senate leader Phil Berger is defending Republican legislators’ controversial 3 a.m. move to strip funding from several education programs in counties represented by Democrats. He argues that the change was necessary to address the state’s opioid epidemic without raising taxes.
The budget amendment was passed moments after it was introduced early Friday morning, following a two-hour Senate recess called when GOP leaders became visibly upset with Democrats for prolonging the budget debate with amendments.
[At 3 a.m., NC Senate GOP strips education funding from Democrats’ districts]
The amendment added about $1 million to programs addressing opioid addiction. The extra money came from cuts to two early college high schools in rural northeastern North Carolina and a summer science, math and technology program for disadvantaged high school students. The amendment also cut a position in the governor’s office and eliminated funding for a program that provides fresh produce in food deserts.
The move made national headlines and prompted criticism from Democrats, who say the amendment was an attempt to retaliate against them.
On Tuesday, Berger issued a statement about the amendment – his first public comment on the issue.
“This amendment helped address, without raising taxes, the opioid crisis that Sen. (Paul) Lowe tried to address with a large tax increase in his amendment,” Berger said in an email.
Read more here: Berger defends 3 a.m. budget changes that cut education in Democrats’ districts
Whole lot of drama going on right there.
