Governor Cooper's Budget Veto

I will be voting "Yes" to sustain Governor Cooper's budget veto for two reasons: healthcare and education. Statewide it leaves half a million citizens out and it wastes $5 billion by failing to expand Medicaid. Equally important, it is simply a sham for our critical commitments to public education.

Roy Cooper will veto GOP-backed state budget. Will... Gov. Roy Cooper announced Friday that he plans to veto a GOP-backed state budget. It's the first time Republicans don't have enough members to override his budget veto on their own. The state spending plan proposed by Republicans in the... Read more www.charlotteobserver.com

“I am vetoing this budget because it prioritizes the wrong things. It values corporate tax breaks over classrooms, gimmicks over guaranteed school construction, and political ideology over people.” - Governor Roy Cooper

Haywood County turned out for a great rally in support of Medicaid Expansion on Friday. I was proud to join my friends and neighbors in support of this critical policy. This budget leaves 500,000 hard-working, low-wage workers behind. It wastes $5 billion dollars by not expanding Medicaid. This is just not acceptable, and at this point a veto and re-negotiation is the our only viable option.

Thank you Down Home NC for organizing this important rally! We're behind you. Keep up the good work!

Check out this great New York Times video that features some of our Jackson County leaders who are working hard to ensure that their neighbors get access to the healthcare they deserve. It is true, Medicaid Expansion is for everyone. This should not be a partisan issue. It is the right thing to do.

'I'm Republican. I Never Thought I'd Fight for Medicaid.' Medicaid expansion could benefit 4.5 million Americans. North Carolina is taking on the fight, as health care for 500,000 hangs in the balance. Read more www.nytimes.com

My wife, Dr. Kate Queen and I attended a fun-filled gala in support of the Cherokee Hospital Foundation at Harrah's Grand Ball Room. We joined Steve Heatherly, CEO of the Harris Regional Hospital and Casey Cooper, CEO of the Cherokee Indian Hospital, for the record-breaking evening of support. With these two CEO's, I was well instructed on the importance of Medicaid expansion to our rural hospitals. 82% of rural hospital closures nationwide have been in non-medicaid expansion states. We must protect our rural hospitals, and the best way to do that is by expanding Medicaid. The funding that Medicaid expansion would bring is critical to the Cherokee Indian Hospital, Harris Regional Hospital, and Haywood Regional Medical Center. It means tens of millions of dollars annually to the core mission of these institutions. Without it, we would lose hard-working people's healthcare, hospitals' resources, and our citizens' jobs.

Thank you Steve Heatherly and Casey Cooper for the important work you do. We are working hard in the legislature to give you and your hospitals the support you deserve.

Joe Sam's Notes

The differences between the budget proposals we have seen means billions of dollars statewide. Locally, we lose $95 million in Haywood, Jackson, and Swain with the current proposal.

$95 million lost in Haywood, Jackson, and Swain

For details on the budgets and how they differ, see these past newsletters for in-depth analyses on the different budget priorities:

Raleigh Report 23

What's at Stake with the Conference Budget

Raleigh Report 22

Education Funding in the Proposed Budgets

Raleigh Report 21

Implications for Healthcare, Education, and Infrastructure

Raleigh Report 17

The Big Billion Dollar Differences in Our Budgets

I will vote to sustain Governor Cooper's budget veto so we can finally get to work on true, bi-partisan budget negotiations. I assure you that we will work hard to negotiate and appropriately compromise to create a budget that benefits all North Carolinians and takes our citizens' healthcare and education seriously.

I hope to see you at our community celebrations this week. Happy Fourth of July! Sincerely,

Please share this with your friends! 

P.S. check out our legislative web page at www.joesamqueennc.com . You can find all of my previous newsletters and more!