NC gov declares an education ‘state of emergency.’ Where has he been? | Opinion
Gov. Roy Cooper declared an education “state of emergency” Monday in North Carolina. In a “special address” video announced earlier in the day, Cooper said that a Republican school voucher plan “drops the atomic bomb on public education.” He urged North Carolinians to rally against what lawmakers apparently have planned for schools.
“It’s clear that the Republican legislature is aiming to choke the life out of public education,” Cooper said. “I am declaring this state of emergency because you need to know what’s happening.”
Oh, we know, governor. At least some North Carolinians have known for years.
Way back in 2013, when Republicans were pushing in earnest for school vouchers for low-income families, our Editorial Board wondered aloud if lawmakers wouldn’t stop there. The Opportunity Scholarship Act, we said, was a “small but clear step toward de-emphasizing public education and, perhaps ultimately, dismantling public schools.” Such an outcome, we said, would be fine with NC Republicans, who didn’t and still don’t want to pay what is necessary for public education to succeed in our state.
And here we are. The Senate GOP has proposed a budget that would expand the Opportunity Scholarship program so that any family, regardless of its income, would qualify to apply for vouchers to attend private school. Last week, the state House approved legislation that would provide universal access to Opportunity Scholarships.
All of which the governor talked about Monday, and all of which he will say this week as he tours the state to rally folks against the GOP plan. He did the same earlier this month after issuing a veto on a bill banning most abortions after 12 weeks. But as with abortion, Cooper has a steep hill to climb on education against a Republican supermajority that can override his vetoes and sap his power.
All he has left is his pulpit, which he has now decided to really use.
Finally.
Here’s another thing we said, way back in 2016, the day after Cooper became governor:
“What Cooper does have is a bully pulpit. He can make a case to North Carolinians — and perhaps to moderate state lawmakers — that North Carolina needs to steer itself in a different direction. He should make that case whenever possible. Be loud, Governor.”
That hasn’t happened as much as some would like. Cooper has been a solid governor but a careful one. He’s spoken up for progressive values and policies — including regularly advocating for teacher raises — but he’s long seemed reticent about going to the mat with North Carolina Republicans. In part that’s because he had a veto in his quiver for years that the GOP couldn’t override. The leverage allowed him to engage in a more conventional back-and-forth with Republicans. He could win some battles and hold off the majority party from doing real damage. That reasonably counts as success for a blue governor facing a red House and Senate.
But some progressives across the state have long wished their governor would more forcefully fight for them. After all, our schools still aren’t properly funded. Our teachers still aren’t getting paid what they should. Neither is Cooper’s fault, but if he had toured the state talking about emergencies, say, two years ago instead of now, maybe North Carolinians would have been provided clarity earlier to the dangers facing our schools and our state.
Perhaps that wouldn’t have made a difference in elections or with a Republican-controlled General Assembly, which dismissed his video Monday as a “stunt.” Or perhaps, as we said back in 2016:
“Change, certainly, will be difficult. Despite his victory, Cooper has little chance of getting a progressive agenda passed. But he can begin to turn North Carolina back toward the vibrant, progressive tradition it long enjoyed. He doesn’t have to do so in an adversarial way. He doesn’t have to be divisive. But North Carolinians have decided to give him their voice. He should use it, loudly.”
We’re glad the governor has decided to do so. We wish he hadn’t waited so long.
This story was originally published May 23, 2023 at 11:28 AM.