Under the Dome: State lawmakers rebuke DMV commissioner for leadership ‘failure’
Good morning and welcome to the Under the Dome newsletter. I’m Emmy Martin. First up, a dispatch from Kyle Ingram and Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan on the House Oversight Committee, DOGE and federal unknowns.
State lawmakers on Thursday admonished DMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin for what they said was his “failure” to lead the troubled agency and suggested “drastic” changes may be needed to right it.
The hearing before the House Oversight Committee came just one day after Goodwin announced he would step down as commissioner but would serve until a successor is found.
Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins told lawmakers that he and Gov. Josh Stein’s office hoped to find a commissioner with more business and management skills.
“This was your last opportunity to be forthright and honest with this committee,” Rep. Brenden Jones, one of the committee chairs, told Goodwin. “... It’s been a failure under your tenure; why not just go ahead and leave?”
Goodwin responded that he had served in his role for three years and still had projects and initiatives underway.
“For there to be a vacancy at the top would potentially slow those down,” he said.
“If the DMV slowed any more, it would stop,” Jones responded.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle spent much of Thursday’s hearing questioning Goodwin about issues with long wait times, few appointments and overall poor customer service at the DMV.
Goodwin acknowledged that the agency has had many challenges but said they had made improvements during his administration and could do more if afforded more staff and resources.
Rep. Eric Ager, a Buncombe County Democrat, agreed.
“It’s clear that the state is growing rapidly,” he said. “We need more people to do the same job for a growing number of people … you certainly can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip.”
But Rep. Jake Johnson, a Polk County Republican, suggested that more sweeping changes may be necessary than just increased funding. He questioned whether the DMV should become a standalone agency separate from the Department of Transportation, which it is currently housed within.
“I know that’s probably not going to happen overnight, but we’ve got to make some drastic changes,” he said. “I think this has been an ongoing problem for way too long.”
Goodwin said he anticipated that a successor would be identified to replace him as commissioner within a couple of months.
“I have chosen a happier life, and I look forward to hearing of great things to come from this body,” he said.
Goodwin’s hearing came during a series of meetings that Republicans planned to hold with Democratic Stein’s Cabinet and the Council of State.
Stein’s appointed Secretary of Revenue McKinley Wooten Jr. gave an overview of his agency, saying priorities include upgrading technology and quickly processing taxes. Wooten fielded questions from Democrats and Republicans about measuring success and ways that the agency can offer better customer service. Committee chairs praised Wooten at the end of his hearing.
Republican Rep. Brian Echevarria of Cabarrus County wanted to make sure there are no diversity, equity and inclusion programs at the agency.
Wooten said that Revenue does not have any DEI programs. Echevarria said he saw a mention of DEI in the Department of Revenue’s strategic plan, and expects that to be eliminated. Wooten said Revenue did not implement any DEI programs.
Echevarria said he is excited that the House has its own DOGE, referring to the Trump administration’s new Department of Government Efficiency, which aims to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and has started widespread, sweeping firings of federal employees in order to reach its goal.
State Budget Director Kristin Walker, who leads the Office of State Budget and Management in Stein’s Cabinet, was asked about any state impact of federal cuts.
Walker said “right now it’s hard to know even which programs are being targeted,” so officials there are talking to other agencies about finding out if the state loses one of more of the 100 federal grants it currently receives.
Republican Rep. John Blust of Guilford County asked Walker about oversight of state money being given to nonprofits. Walker explained how the budget office’s internal audit staff works and that “the answer lies with each agency.”
Rep. Amber Baker, a Forsyth County Democrat, said when state lawmakers look at government efficiency, they should also look at private school vouchers, to which Republicans gave an additional $500 million at the end of 2024.
Echevarria also asked about DEI at OSBM. Walker said her office strives to attract the best workforce and “to create a welcoming environment.”
– Kyle Ingram and Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan
SUPERINTENDENT TO HOST LISTENING SESSIONS ACROSS STATE
New North Carolina Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green announced that he will be hosting eight public listening sessions across the state in March and April.
Inviting parents, students, educators, school and district staff, public officials and other community members, Green will use the insights gained from the sessions to draft a strategic plan for the Department of Public Instruction and State Board of Education.
“The strategic plan we create will advance my vision for every child in North Carolina to achieve educational excellence and for our public schools to be the best in the country,” Green said in a press release. “For the plan to be effective, it must be driven by the people we serve – from students and teachers to employers and community leaders.”
Green will also meet privately with leaders in the education, business, community, nonprofit and religious sectors.
The sessions, called “Mo Wants to Know,” will take place on the following dates:
March 17, 6 p.m.: Tuscola High School, register here.
March 18, 6 p.m.: Hibriten High School, register here.
March 24, 6 p.m.: Mount Tabor High School, register here.
March 26, 6 p.m.: Harold E. Winkler Middle School, register here.
March 27, 6 p.m.: Westover High School, register here.
March 31, 6 p.m.: John J. Blair Elementary School, register here.
April 7, 6 p.m.: Northern High School, register here.
April 9, 6 p.m.: Northeastern High School, register here.
BLACK NC LAWMAKERS CRITICIZE ANTI-DEI BILL
Black North Carolina lawmakers on Thursday blasted House Bill 171, which we wrote about in Tuesday’s Under the Dome newsletter.
The Republican bill seeks to ban diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives throughout state and local governments.
Sen. Kandie Smith, a Greenville Democrat who chairs the North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus, said at a news conference that the proposal could “impeach me from office because I’m Black.”
HB 171 would prohibit all state agencies from implementing or supporting DEI programs, policies or initiatives and includes criminal penalties for those who knowingly violate the ban. It also says that elected officials may be impeached for failing to comply with the ban.
“If you want a true equal society based on who the best person is, then you need to have inclusive policies, you need to have diversified policies,” Sen. Caleb Theodros, a Charlotte Democrat, said.
Rep. Allen Buansi, a Chapel Hill Democrat, suggested anti-DEI efforts were a smokescreen to distract from issues like higher costs and massive cuts to the federal workforce.
WHAT ELSE WE’RE WORKING ON
Students and other groups seeking to protest on UNC System campuses will have new rules to follow, following a vote by the UNC System Board of Governors on Thursday. It approved a policy which will govern “campus gatherings and related student conduct matters.” Korie Dean has more.
Republicans are advancing a bill in the state Senate this week that would block the attorney general from participating in any state or federal lawsuits that seek to invalidate any executive order issued by the president. This comes after Attorney General Jeff Jackson joined four lawsuits challenging President Donald Trump’s executive orders. Avi Bajpai has more.
Senate Bill 204, filed on Thursday, would eliminate the standardized testing requirements for students in teacher preparation programs. The legislation also eliminates the standardized testing requirement for getting an initial teaching license. The Republican-sponsored bill also would bar the State Board of Education from adopting rules or policies to implement a standardized test requirement for teacher licensure. T. Keung Hui has more.
Today’s newsletter was by Emmy Martin, Kyle Ingram and Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan. Check your inbox Sunday for more #ncpol.
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