A Couple of Surprises Incorporated Into NC Senate Budget

The NC Senate has just passed its proposed budget. It includes a modest income tax reduction and an array of spending measures.

But there were a few measures that were noteworthy and somewhat surprising.

The first is the elimination of the Certificate of Need process that gives hospital systems greater monopoly power in the state of North Carolina. This process requires that entities go before the state for permission before starting up certain types of health care facilities.

The second involved giving “DOGE-light” powers to the state Auditor to recommend spending reductions to the General Assembly.

The third institutes work requirements for Medicaid recipients. This is long overdue.

I hope each of these measures survive the negotiations that take place with the NC House, and any votes that take place in that body.

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8 thoughts on “A Couple of Surprises Incorporated Into NC Senate Budget”

  1. Encouraging! In addition to the continuation of lessening the income tax rate and clawing back $100 million of the half trillion given to the venture capital NGO. One can never take for granted bits of intelligence from the NC GOP.

  2. Good craftsmanship on the part of the GOP. Like you I hope the 3 measures pass muster.

    1. On the Certificate of Need piece, Fred, Republican Donny Lambeth– the former hospital administrator– will likely be a fierce opponent in the House. This guy represents the hospital systems in the NC House. It will be interesting to see what happens, but it needs to pass.

      The DOGE piece is sufficiently watered down that it seems likely to pass. The Medicaid work requirements? I don’t know, but the House Republican caucus is not terribly conservative.

      1. Lambeth is my rep. He was instrumental in the Medicaid expansion. When I contacted him to express my opposition, he was pretty arrogant. He has yet to face good opposition in a primary and is in a safe district for a Republican.

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