NC Gov. Josh Stein calls for extra session, utilizing rarely used executive branch power

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – North Carolina Governor Josh Stein is using a move very rarely used by governors to call legislators back to Raleigh in hopes they will fully fund Medicaid. The move hasn’t been used in nearly a decade.

“It’s incredibly rare,” David McLennan with Meredith College said. “Governor Cooper did it one time during his two terms in office.”

When he calls them back to Raleigh on Nov. 17, the governor wants lawmakers to fully fund Medicaid.

“The members of the General Assembly have had six months to take action and solve this problem, but they have failed,” he said.

Several Democratic lawmakers support the move.

“Him calling us all back means that things have broken down so badly that he is using the authority he has to bring us back in and hope that calmer heads prevail,” Top Democratic Senator Sydney Batch said. “And that we do what’s right by North Carolinians.”

It’s the latest in a months-long back-and-forth between the state Senate and the House of Representatives, both controlled by Republicans. Lawmakers on both sides agree on funding hundreds of millions of dollars for the healthcare program, but a separate debate about a standalone children’s hospital is holding up a final bill.

Last month, the House sent a funding bill to the Senate, which rejected it. Republican House leaders have said Governor Stein manufactured this crisis by cutting rates early.

Senate Democrats disagree.

“If the Department of Health and Human Services, which is mandated to only spend money they have, spent whatever they have right now, they would likely be out in March and April,” Senator Batch said.

No Republican leaders responded to a request for an interview, but a statement from House Speaker Destin Hall says in part: “Until recently, the General Assembly has worked with the executive branch to provide funding to Medicaid, while also monitoring the program’s integrity. The administration should have continued that practice.”

With Republicans controlling both chambers, Democrats are not confident in the funding moving forward in a few weeks.

“A girl can dream, but no, I don’t think that we’re going to have anything that’s actually accomplished in that period of time,” Senator Batch said.

Last month, Republican leaders said they didn’t plan any more voting sessions until at least 2026. Even coming back for an extra session, they could just gavel in and immediately adjourn without actually debating any bills.