“Governor No” Continues to Drown North Carolina in Red Ink

Perdue’s reckless vetoes put North Carolina families at risk

Yesterday, Gov. Bev Perdue doubled down on obstructionism, continuing the failed policies that led to North Carolina’s dire financial situation and record job losses.

Following through on her threat to drown Republican reforms – and North Carolina taxpayers – in a sea of red ink, Perdue is ignoring the outcome of the 2010 elections and the will of the voters.

Perdue vetoed Senate Bill 265, which would close a $515 million shortfall in the State Health Plan by requiring employees to pay a small health insurance premium – about 5 percent – and make $10 copays for generic prescriptions. The veto puts thousands of teachers and state employees at risk.

Perdue also vetoed House Bill 7, which gives local control to North Carolina community colleges in decisions about federal loan programs.

The unprecedented “double-veto” should not surprise North Carolinians. Just last week, Gov. Perdue boasted to an audience of supporters that she planned to use a “quart jar of red ink” to veto Republican legislation. “I’m prepared and ready to go,” Perdue said in reference to her veto stamp and jar of red ink.

North Carolina is already drowning in red ink – thanks to Gov. Perdue and the former Democrat majority in the General Assembly.

The state is facing a $2.5 billion budget hole for fiscal year 2011-2012 – in addition to the $515 million State Health Plan shortfall.

Perdue and the Democratic legislature had more than a decade to get the state’s fiscal house in order. Instead, Democrats dramatically increased spending in 9 of the last 10 years, putting the state on an unsustainable course, and precipitating the largest tax increase in North Carolina history – over $1 billion – in the midst of a recession.

Democratic policies led to 300,000 lost jobs from 2007 to 2010.

Gov. Perdue’s reckless vetoes prove Republicans were right to doubt her willingness to work together on the budget. That is why the Republican legislature is attempting to pass a continuing resolution, HB383, to keep the government running in case of more Perdue obstructionism on the budget. HB383 also extends unemployment benefits for 37,000 families.

Incredibly, yesterday Senate Democrats voted unanimously to cut off unemployment benefits for those 37,000 families.

“No” is not a strategy, yet Gov. Perdue is proving that she has no intention of working with Republican legislative leaders to balance the budget and get North Carolina’s fiscal house in order. Thus, Republican are justified in proposing a continuing resolution – if and when Perdue vetoes a budget plan.

The question is will Gov. Perdue veto a continuing resolution that extends unemployment benefits to 37,000 families?

If Gov. Perdue continues playing politics with her quart of red ink, North Carolinians will continue to suffer.

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