Gov. Roy Cooper and leaders of the General Assembly met Friday for an hour to discus the state budget.

But according to statements made by Cooper’s office as well as by House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger, the two sides were unable to compromise and will delay the introduction of the budget.

The last workday the legislature can pass the budget for the new fiscal year is Friday.

Moore and Berger said Monday they had hoped to have a budget ready that evening but they would delay the schedule to allow Cooper time to respond to their offers at Friday’s meeting.

In Cooper’s statement on Friday, he said he and Democratic leaders told Republican leaders that they oppose more corporate tax cuts, “unaccountable school vouchers” and the “state capital and infrastructure slush fund.” Any budget compromise has to include discussion of Medicaid expansion, a school and infrastructure bond package, and significantly higher teacher salaries, according to Cooper’s statement. 

He said these items are negotiable but that Republican leaders are unwilling to discuss any compromises, as they have nearly completed their budget.

In their joint statement, Berger and Moore said the governor came to the meeting only to discuss Medicaid expansion, but they were ready to discuss capital spending, taxes, teacher and state employee salaries, public education and the rainy-day fund.

“We’ve asked for concrete compromise proposals from the governor for nearly two weeks now,” Moore and Berger’s statement said. “He has refused to provide them. The governor did take our opening positions back with him. Legislators asked that he fill out his compromise offers, and hopefully he shares them quickly.”

 ‘The 24th’ approved for film grant rebate

Three new television and film projects will receive North Carolina Film and Entertainment Grants, including “The 24th,” which is filming in Salisbury.

“The 24th” is based on the Army’s all-black 24th Infantry Regiment and is set in Houston in 1917. The story centers on a riot led by some of the soldiers that left 15 people dead. The riot resulted in the biggest murder trial in U.S. history with 19 men sentenced to execution and 41 men sentenced to prison. The film is shooting in Cabarrus, Mecklenburg and Rowan counties.

The film received $1.6 million in grants.

Cooper leads Forest in 2020 governor’s race matchup

The latest Civitas Institute poll has found that in a 2020 matchup in the governor’s race, Democratic incumbent Roy Cooper is leading Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest by 10 points — 47% to 37% — with 16% of respondents saying they’re undecided.

In the survey of 500 likely voters by the conservative-leaning group, respondents were asked if the election were held today, who they would vote for.

With a little less than 18 months until the next election, the snapshot of voter sentiment will likely fluctuate as each campaign crystalizes its agenda and mobilizes grassroots teams.

“Given Gov. Cooper’s greater relative visibility and above-water approval ratings, this result is not a great surprise this early in the election cycle,” said Civitas Institute President Donald Bryson. “However, both campaigns should be wary of what the cross-tab tea leaves show. This race could be very close, and both candidates could easily take crossover votes from the other’s party.”

Likely voters were also asked about whether they approve or disapprove of the job Cooper is doing as governor. The results were 53% saying they approved, while 34% disapproved. The result is a slight decline in approval from May — 56% — and March — 58%.

Public-comment period begins for new voter ID, absentee voting rules

The N.C. State Board of Elections is seeking public comment through July 12 on proposed rules changes related to the implementation of the new voter ID law, including the photo identification requirement for absentee-by-mail voting.

The board is required to develop temporary rules by July 1 and permanent rules by Jan. 1. A public hearing on the proposed rules will be held July 11.

More specifically, the proposed rule changes include:

 • Defining the process for implementing photo ID for absentee-by-mail voting, including the requirement for voters to include a readable copy of their photo ID with an absentee ballot request or ballot return, with exceptions

• Providing that exceptions to the ID requirement for voting in person – including reasonable impediment and religious objection – also apply to absentee-by-mail voters

• Repealing and amending rules based on the previous voter ID law, which was repealed.

Public comments may be provided through any of the following methods: email at rules@ncsbe.gov or mail to Attn: Rulemaking, P.O. Box 27255. Raleigh, NC 27611-7255