Under the Dome: GOP targets NC attorney general’s power to challenge Trump policies
Good morning and welcome to the Under the Dome newsletter. I’m Emily Vespa. First up, an update from the state legislature by Avi Bajpai.
Three Republican lawmakers introduced a brief, one-page bill on Wednesday to prevent recently sworn-in Democratic Attorney General Jeff Jackson from participating in lawsuits against President Donald Trump’s executive actions.
The 15-line bill, sponsored by Sens. Eddie Settle, Bobby Hanig and Tim Moffitt, would block the attorney general from joining as a party, amicus, or any other participant, in any legal actions brought in state or federal courts that seek to invalidate any executive order issued by the president.
The bill comes after GOP lawmakers successfully limited the incoming Democratic attorney general’s powers in December with legislation that now prohibits Jackson from taking positions on state laws being challenged in court that are different from the position maintained by GOP legislative leaders.
That bill also blocks the attorney general from taking positions in court that would lead to a state law being struck down.
Since taking office Jackson has joined multistate lawsuits seeking to block Trump’s executive order that attempted to end birthright citizenship, and the new administration’s efforts to freeze certain federal grants and other funding while a review of spending is conducted.
SOME RAISE CONCERNS OVER BILL AIMED AT CUTTING HEALTH CARE COSTS
In yesterday’s newsletter, we mentioned a health care bill that would require the repeal of an existing health insurance coverage mandate for any new mandate proposed, and would also require state spending to offset the cost of the mandate to the State Health Plan or other state agency.
These provisions would help North Carolina cut health care costs, according to bill sponsor Republican Sen. Jim Burgin. During its first hearing Wednesday in a health committee, representatives for insurance agents and for businesses spoke in favor of the measure. The bill passed two committees on Wednesday and now goes to a third.
And while lawmakers and speakers at the committees agreed health care costs were a problem, some said the bill was no panacea.
Ardis Watkins, executive director of the state employees association, said the organization had been talking about “our concerns over health care costs in the State Health Plan” for years. But she said “the only way to fix things” is to address “the complete lack of transparency in health care costs.”
Democratic Sen. Terence Everitt raised concerns, saying, “I don’t think this bill, in and of itself, does anything to lower costs,” with it only being activated by another mandate.
“I have concerns that this will lead to eliminating contraceptive coverage or, in the State Health Plan, a woman who is raped having access to coverage for an abortion,” he said.
Burgin replied that he had sponsored a bill allowing pharmacies to dispense hormonal contraceptives without a doctor’s visit and “I’ve run a number of health care bills.” He said he’d be happy to sit down with Everitt and listen to his ideas before the bill goes to the floor for a vote.
And it’s not just lawmakers paying attention to this issue. A new poll from United States of Care (USofCare), a nonprofit focused on health care access, highlights frustration with rising health care costs in North Carolina, with many people polled having faced issues due to hospital consolidation and facility fees.
A report released alongside the poll, co-authored by USofCare and the North Carolina Justice Center, a liberal-leaning nonprofit, suggests various policy changes. Those include:
Additional protections against medical debt
Lowering ambulance costs
Improving billing transparency
Granting full practice authority to more providers
Giving the North Carolina Department of Insurance more authority to review costs and limit copays and deductibles.
— Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi
STEIN ANNOUNCES $5M FOR SMALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM FOR WESTERN NC
The Duke Endowment pledged $5 million to a public-private partnership to help small businesses in Western North Carolina recover from Helene, Gov. Josh Stein announced Wednesday.
The endowment joins the state and the Dogwood Health Trust in supporting the Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative grant program, which funds grants up to $50,000 to small businesses with an annual revenue of up to $2.5 million. The program has already seen nearly 900 applicants since it was announced Friday, the governor’s office said in a news release.
Eligible businesses can apply for a grant through Feb. 21 on the Appalachian Community Capital website.
STATE LAWMAKERS PROPOSE $500 MILLION HELENE RELIEF BILL
North Carolina lawmakers released a fourth storm relief bill with $500 million proposed to go toward Hurricane Helene recovery efforts, reports Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi.
The bill would spend much of its funding on home reconstruction, farmer assistance, flood damage prevention projects and private infrastructure repairs. It also would extend regulatory provisions and the statewide emergency declaration.
The current bill is a “shell,” House Helene recovery committee chair Rep. John Bell said, and committee members may propose amendments before it’s heard in committee next week.
WHAT ELSE WE’RE WORKING ON
Over a thousand demonstrators marched around the State Capitol building Wednesday, joining nationwide protests in state capitals against Trump’s administration, report Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan and Avi Bajpai. Protesters in Raleigh were especially concerned with billionaire businessman Elon Musk’s wide influence over the executive branch.
Democratic state legislators and veterans blasted GOP state Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin’s effort to invalidate military ballots in the election, reports Kyle Ingram.
North Carolina lawmakers proposed a bill Wednesday that would ban the state’s public school students from using cellphones or laptops during instructional time, with some exceptions. T. Keung Hui has the details.
Today’s newsletter was by Emily Vespa, Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi and Avi Bajpai. Check your inbox tomorrow for more #ncpol.
