N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper proposes 18% raises for teachers

Some Meeting Required is Axios Raleigh’s weekly column from political reporter Lucille Sherman, unpacking developments contained in the N.C. Common Meeting.

It has been per week. Along with Medicaid enlargement, lawmakers superior opioids laws, looser gun legal guidelines, cell sports activities betting legalization, and a invoice outlining penalties for an assault on an influence grid, prompted by Moore County’s grid outage in December.

Then there’s the funds: ICYMI, final week Republican legislative leaders agreed to spend 6.5% extra within the 2023-2024 fiscal yr as a part of the funds package deal — one of the crucial important negotiations yearly. I am a bit shocked they compromised this early.

• Gov. Roy Cooper responded by unveiling his personal funds proposal Wednesday, which proposes trainer raises averaging 18% and decreasing unemployment insurance coverage taxes.

Spoiler: Cooper would not have a lot leverage, provided that Republicans are working with an efficient supermajority within the state Home and a real supermajority within the Senate.

What I am watching: What “poison tablets” Republicans embody within the funds. If lawmakers embody abortion restrictions, for instance, Cooper may should resolve whether or not to veto billions of {dollars} for the state and block Medicaid enlargement — his greatest precedence, and one which’s contingent on the state funds passing —from changing into regulation.

• The legislature may ship enlargement to Cooper’s desk as early as this week.

Do not forget about 2024: Home Republicans are focusing on 37 congressional seats to flip. Amongst them are these occupied by Reps. Wiley Nickel, Don Davis and Jeff Jackson.

• Value noting: Their districts will doubtless change after the state legislature redraws congressional districts later this yr.