Why North Carolina's governor signed the state budget

What they’re saying: Stein said the budget contained “real wins, worthy of celebration and worthy of my signature.”

• He applauded “the largest raise for starting teachers in nearly half a century” and money going to Hurricane Helene recovery, as well as decisions to end tax breaks for data centers and fully fund Medicaid.

Yes, but: Before signing the legislation Tuesday, Stein also detailed what he called flaws.

• “Many state employees' raises don't even keep up with inflation, and even the more meaningful raises that are in the budget still leave us lagging behind our neighbors in competitive salaries,” he said.
• “It's full of unconstitutional and petty provisions that strip power from the executive branch, politicize state government, and undermine its efficiency,” Stein continued.

The other side: Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger defended the legislation in a previous statement as being “a responsible spending plan that takes aim at bureaucratic bloat without endangering core services.”

The bottom line: “Our democracy has always run on compromise for the common good, and for these reasons, and because it delivers for North Carolinians in important ways, I support this budget,” Stein said.