RALEIGH — Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has responded to the Republican strategy of passing piecemeal legislation to unwind their budget impasse by signing four employee pay bills and vetoing one needed to stand up North Carolina's forthcoming Medicaid managed-care system.
Cooper signed measures into law on Friday that give most state employees and state law enforcement officers 2.5% annual raises this year and next. Even Cooper got a similar raise, but said he donated that increase this year to help teachers buy classroom supplies.
The vetoed measure would provide funds to run the Medicaid program for the next two years, including the transition to managed-care treatment that's been years in the making. Cooper said health care policy should be done comprehensively — a likely reference to his budget demand of Medicaid expansion.
