Making the Best of the Week
We're biding our time here in the budget veto garage, waiting patiently for the Republicans to join us at the table and negotiate a good compromise budget. We have shown them some great options, and will continue to work hard in good faith to do what's best for the people of North Carolina.
Mountain Youth Charities Barn Dance
We all had a wonderful time at the Mountain Youth Charities Barn Dance to raise lots of much needed funds to support public education in the Cashiers area. It was my pleasure to be a part of it!
Sarge's Dog Walk
It was great to see Justin Arthur and his dogs Teagan and Roxy for another year Sarge's Dog Walk. There were over 300 dogs and their owners for this year's walk. We love our furry friends in Haywood!
Battle of the Badges
I enjoyed seeing so many Haywood County Citizens out to see our law enforcement team up to play flag football against the EMS and our Fire Departments in a fun event to support Mountain Projects and all the good work they do for the community.
Big T Club Drawdown
Everyone was a winner at this great event to support Tuscola Athletics. I'm here with Master of Ceremonies Mike Sorrells and two winners, Jimmy Rogers and Doug McCracken, and I won a Bit T Hat door prize! Thank you Brandon Green for your contribution of over 300 steak dinners!
Joe Sam's Notes
Another Week in the Veto Garage

Governor Cooper vetoed the State Budget on June 28. We are still stuck in this budget veto garage, on our 29 th day since Governor Cooper proposed his compromise budget, with no response from the House or Senate’s leadership. There has been no counter offer, not even an attempt to override Governor Cooper’s veto, from the Republican Leadership in the House and Senate. Nothing but delay.

All we have received from Speaker Tim Moore is an irresponsible ultimatum: Give up on Medicaid Expansion and we will come to the table.

We will not leave 500,000 North Carolinians behind. We will not sit idly by while thousands of our neighbors die for lack of coverage. We are here to serve our citizens and we are sticking with them.

We will continue to work hard, and we will join our fellow states, Republican and Democratic alike, in expanding Medicaid, providing healthcare, saving taxpayer dollars, and saving lives. 

Last week I detailed the success that Ohio has seen since they expanded Medicaid under Republican Governor John Kasich. Now we have new data from our neighbor Virginia, and their success with Medicaid Expansion is astounding.

With a Republican State Senate and a Republican State House, Virginians came together across party lines and passed Medicaid Expansion in their state budget. Today, 300,000 Virginians have healthcare who were uninsured just a few months ago.

Because Republicans and Democrats worked together and passed Medicaid Expansion, 300,000 Virginians can see a doctor, get treatment, and lead happy, healthy, productive lives.

Here in North Carolina we could do the exact same thing. We could extend healthcare coverage, which in our state would insure over 500,000 citizens—6,000 to 8,000 in Haywood, Jackson, and Swain —in just a few short months, starting November 1 st .

Taking this step would bring $5 billion of our tax dollars back to North Carolina, $40 million to Haywood, Jackson, and Swain as a part of this two-year budget. This would create 40,000 good healthcare jobs statewide, over 400 in Haywood, Jackson, and Swain, and it would save more than 1,000 lives per year across our state, 10-20 in our district. 

You have heard me go over the numbers time and time again. The facts are in, and we know from experience across the country that this is not a Democrat versus Republican issue. This is a question of Right versus Wrong.

It’s time to do what’s Right for North Carolina. It is time for our Republican leadership to come to the table, in good faith, to pass a compromise budget that works for everyone. 
Sincerely,
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P.S. check out our legislative web page at www.joesamqueennc.com . You can find all of my previous newsletters and more!