With less than three weeks until the Oct. 31 deadline, legislators are still working to pass an overall state budget.
Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed a GOP budget bill in June, citing the plan's failure to include funds to expand Medicaid coverage for low-income adults in North Carolina. Cooper has said Medicaid expansion and larger raises for teachers are key provisions he wants to see in the state's final budget.
Rather than bend to the governor's demands, Republicans are looking at alternative ways to pass a budget before the end of the month, including attempting to gather the votes to override Cooper's veto or working out a side deal with Senate Democrats. GOP Senate leader Phil Berger says he is willing to hold a special session on health care next year in exchange for Democrats supporting the current budget proposal.
Cooper, however, insists Senate Democrats are aligned with him and won't work with Republicans to override his veto of the previous plan.
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