From Representitive Keith Kidwell

During the last legislative session, the General Assembly passed legislation to promote safety in our schools. Some very intentional steps were taken that opened doors to education grants for mental health personnel school resource officers and more.

The bipartisan budget that was passed by the House and Senate this session and sent to Gov. Cooper continued these very important measures on school safety. He vetoed the budget, insisting that we expand Medicaid.

With zero regard for the school safety resources that have been appropriated, Gov. Cooper has loudly declared that expanding Medicaid is his only concern. No matter who gets hurt or what programs suffer financially, this is where he is, and it is an irresponsible way to govern.

I am fortunate to be serving on the Select Committee on School Safety. School safety is a core focus of the budget. With more than $60 million going to education grants for mental health personnel, school resource officers, training, equipment, and student crisis resources.

We in the legislature are putting forth efforts to lay a practical foundation for school safety. Of that $60 million, $3 million was added to the existing $12 million in the first year of the biennium and $6 million in the second to raise the totals to $15 million and $18 million respectively for school resource officer grants.

The budget calls for $43 million in grants for mental health support personnel. Also, $6.1 million for safety equipment, $4.5 million in grants to help students in crisis, and $4.5 million in safety training grants.

These are real dollars to provide help for real people. Sure expanding Medicaid would also help people, but that is not the question. The question is getting the budget approved by the General Assembly passed so that the school safety measures we are building can continue.

It’s a question of doing what is right, and right now, Gov. Cooper is wrong. His veto is wrong and his refusal to sit down with the House and Senate leadership is wrong. His submitting a “counteroffer” that is $745.3 million over the budget passed by the legislature is very wrong.

Spending other people’s money without restraint may be something Gov. Cooper wants to do, but we are committed to budgets that are prudent and do not put our state at risk. Gov. Cooper, it’s time to stop with your one-issue agenda and let’s get these resources to the people who need them to help promote school safety.

Rep. Keith Kidwell is in his first term representing House District 79, which includes Beaufort and Craven counties.