Governor Stein Highlights State Progress Amid Political Tensions

Governor Josh Stein struck an upbeat tone during his Oct. 20 North Carolina Strong briefing, touting improvements in DMV service, Hurricane Helene recovery, and workforce programs for veterans while criticizing Republican leaders over the stalled state budget.

“The General Assembly needs to do its job — to keep people safe and healthy, not to strip them of their political power,” Stein said during the briefing.

Stein renewed his push for a $195 million public safety plan that would raise officer pay and fund recruitment bonuses, saying it’s needed to address vacancies and combat rising violent crime. He also urged lawmakers to restore roughly $44 million in mental health funding reduced when new Medicaid reimbursement rules took effect Oct. 1.

However, state records show some reallocations were approved internally by the Department of Health and Human Services, part of the governor’s cabinet, complicating his claim that the legislature alone caused the cuts.

Stein and DMV Commissioner Paul Tine highlighted the agency’s progress since Senate Bill 245 took effect, allowing more online license renewals. More than 18,000 people have renewed online in the past month, and the DMV has hired 64 new examiners, reaching 95% staffing capacity statewide.

On Helene recovery, Stein announced $9 million in new state-funded grants for 14 nonprofit disaster recovery groups. But questions arose over his claim that FEMA was slow to reimburse funds — the state’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program application isn’t due until Oct. 31, 2025, meaning payouts haven’t begun.

The governor also highlighted private investments, including a $500,000 GE Aerospace Foundation grant to train veterans as FAA-certified mechanics near Fort Bragg.

Despite bipartisan cooperation on several fronts, Stein sharply criticized lawmakers for failing to pass a budget. “There are only two states without a budget,” he said. “North Carolina is one of them.”

Republican leaders dismissed the comments as political, but Stein closed with a call for unity: “The people of North Carolina deserve a government that works as hard as they do.”