(The Center Square) – Snow and ice outside didn’t thwart the warm offer inside the old House of Representatives chambers in the North Carolina Capitol on Saturday.
Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, 58, used his inaugural address to invite the Republican majorities of the General Assembly to work together making the state stronger. His tenor for cooperation allowed that good ideas don’t come with party registration.
He did, as expected, highlight usual topics of Democrats and in particular education. Stein spoke of the urgency in the foothills and mountains following Hurricane Helene, with recovery efforts having entered the 16th week.
“North Carolina strong also means working together across our differences to get things done,” Stein said. “And so to the members of the General Assembly, I say let’s work together. We have real problems to solve and we do not have time to settle petty political scores or fight divisive culture wars. I want to stand with you as we fight for our people, not with each other. No party has all the answers.”
Saturday’s ceremony, originally to be a climax of Inauguration Ball ceremonies over three days, was moved indoors with limited access by a winter storm. Snow and ice blanketed the Triangle and other parts of the state.
Stein pledged his official oath on Jan. 1.
Whether a rhetorical offer by the new governor or something else will be decided in the next four years. He’s been the attorney general for the state the last eight years, regularly an ally of litigation-ready Gov. Roy Cooper in quarrels with the Legislature. Cooper issued 328 executive orders and stamped a record 104 vetoes, 52 of which were overturned by override votes – more of those including a vote from Democrats than coming back only Republicans.
Republican majorities are 30-20 in the Senate and 71-49 in the House of Representatives.
Stein’s quarter-hour address included topics of teacher raises and public school funding on the K-12 education front; expansion of career education and apprenticeship programs after secondary education years; and a plea for more lawmen and action to help stop fentanyl. He called for the creation of more “good paying” jobs; cutting taxes “for working people”; strength in the workforce; and investment in broadband, roads, railroads, ports and airports.
“North Carolina strong mean economic opportunity for everyone because where you come from should never limit how far you can go,” Stein said in an almost echo to why lawmakers made school choice universal in 2023 and in 2024 wiped out a waiting list for it of some 55,000 with a $463 million appropriation.
“Every North Carolinian should have a fair shot at prosperity,” he said.
While his education points were strictly aligned with the Democratic Party, he did not mention that Republicans had also sought pay raises for teachers. The difference is Stein’s predecessor, Cooper, always sought far more. For example, this past year he requested 8.5% raises plus $1,500 to not leave.
“We must provide our public school teachers and staff real pay raises,” Stein said.
Cooper, in his farewell, noted the last eight years have included 19% in raises for them. That said, his record will show more vetoes of state budgets with teacher raises than signatures and Republican lawmakers delivering through veto override.
Stein’s offer to work together on this cold winter day is certainly headed for examination in education.
Stein noted Republican Gov. Jim Holshouser (1973-77) and a majority Democrats in the Legislature made North Carolina first in the South to offer kindergarten to every child. And, he lauded Cooper working with a GOP Legislature to get Medicaid expansion. And he spoke of three bills the General Assembly favored during his time as attorney general.
“We have worked across the aisle for the good of our people before, let’s do it again,” Stein said.
He told a public television audience that regardless of whether he earned their vote, he would work hard for them and try to earn their trust.
“With my faith guiding me and your spirit inspiring me, I stand before you today ready and eager for the work ahead,” he said. “We must overcome the unprecedented storm that ravaged our state and the everyday struggles that impact our neighbors, and we will.”