North Carolina’s $30-billion budget, stuffed with Republican priorities but also containing a long-sought Democratic victory on Medicaid expansion, will become law without Gov. Roy Cooper’s signature, he announced shortly after the GOP-held Senate gave final legislative approval Friday morning.
The budget, delayed by Republican disputes over expanded gambling in the state, comes months after the July 1 start of the fiscal year.
The expansion of Medicaid, a top issue for Cooper since he was first elected governor in 2016, will give health insurance to hundreds of thousands of the state’s working poor. Expansion passed previously in the session, but its implementation was tied to the budget.
“Health insurance for 600,000 more North Carolinians that brings more mental health and substance use disorder treatment, help for desperate rural hospitals and billions of dollars into our economy is a life-saving, monumental decision for our state,” Cooper said in a statement moments after the Senate passed the measure in a 26-17 final vote Friday morning.
