NC lawmakers are failing the suffering people of western North Carolina | Opinion

An emergency requires urgency, but apparently that doesn’t apply to the North Carolina General Assembly.

The Republican-controlled legislature is dragging its feet in response to the devastation in western North Carolina caused by Hurricane Helene.

More than four months after the storm brought high winds, tornadoes and massive flooding to 39 counties, the legislature is still dawdling on delivering relief commensurate with the need and the state’s ability to pay.

When former Gov. Roy Cooper asked the legislature to approve $3.9 billion in state hurricane relief funds, Republican lawmakers responded with Senate Bill 382. It set aside $227 million for the Helene relief fund, but focused on narrowing the powers of three newly elected Democrats, Gov. Josh Stein, state Attorney General Jeff Jackson and Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green.

Cooper vetoed the bill as a sham, but his veto was overridden.

Hurricane relief isn’t a partisan issue. The governor and lawmakers on both sides should work as one to serve people in need.

Stein has asked the legislature to approve $1.07 billion for immediate relief, but lawmakers are considering providing only half that.

Half measures are wholly inadequate.

“The people of western North Carolina have suffered tremendously since Helene swept through,” Stein said in making his request. “I appreciate what the General Assembly has done so far, but it’s time for us to step up and get them the money they need right now to rebuild. We can’t forget western North Carolina – and I will do everything in my power to ensure that the state shows up for them.”

The immediate needs the governor wants the legislature to fund include:

• $150 million for businesses that suffered physical damage or significant economic loss.

• $100 million to support local governments.

• $150 million to immediately start rebuilding an estimated 5,100 homes.

• $100 million to help farmers clear debris and waterways so they can resume production and prevent future flooding.

So far, with additional legislation, the General Assembly has approved a little more than $1 billion for Helene recovery, but that will hardly make a dent in damages estimated to total $44.4 billion. There is also a need for $5.8 billion more for strengthening buildings and infrastructure and mitigating flooding and other hazards. In December, the Office of State Budget and Management estimated the total cost of recovery at $59.6 billion.

State officials expect that the federal government will provide $15.7 billion in Helene recovery funding. That is well short of the need and could take months to fully arrive. Western North Carolina need more help now.

Republican lawmakers have for years poured surplus money into reserve funds for the proverbial “rainy day.” But now that a deluge has flooded western North Carolina, the lawmakers are reluctant to tap the reserves.

The state’s rainy day fund still holds $3.7 billion. The state’s emergency response/disaster reserve fund holds another $709 million. Republicans should reach deeper into those funds to provide relief until federal aid fully arrives.

If Republican lawmakers are worried about depleting reserves, there’s another step they can take. They could suspend the income tax breaks that took effect on Jan. 1. They could also pass, God forbid, a temporary tax to support western North Carolina.

In a Feb. 3 letter to legislative leaders, Stein wrote, “True recovery from a disaster of this magnitude will require a powerful, coordinated, and timely response. We cannot ask the residents who are suffering today to wait until next fiscal year for relief. Their needs are dire and immediate; the state’s response should be immediate.”

It’s an emergency. Let’s see some urgency.

This story was originally published February 5, 2025 at 10:36 AM with the headline "NC lawmakers are failing the suffering people of western North Carolina | Opinion."