State Auditor: GOP leaves disaster victims out in the cold

Dave Boliek points out that legislature didn't fund housing for Helene victims.

Yesterday, in his first full day in office, Josh Stein traveled to western North Carolina to address the recovery effort from Hurricane Helene. He issued five executive orders intended to speed up recovery and get help to people still suffering the consequences of the devastating storm. In response, the in-coming state auditor criticized the GOP legislature’s lack of funding to help victims of the disaster.

According to the News & Observer, Stein’s orders provide temporary housing units, speed up repairs of roads and bridges, establishes a western recovery office, offers state employees paid leave to help with recovery efforts, and formalizes an advisory committee set up to help with recovery priorities. State Auditor Dave Boliek praised Stein’s actions and questioned why the legislature short-changed the recovery effort.

In his first official statement as auditor, Republican Boliek said of Stein’s orders, “You and I agree that there is much that needs to be done in Western North Carolina, and I trust recovery will remain a priority throughout your tenure.” He pointed out that the legislature failed to adequately fund the relief effort, asking, “Where will the money to purchase the 1,000 Transportable Temporary Housing Units come from? How much will it cost to purchase 1,000 units and how will they be deployed?”

Last month, the legislature met in a special session ostensibly to provide funding for hurricane relief, but instead focused on stripping power from the incoming Democratic members of the counsel of state. Former Governor Roy Cooper blasted the bill they passed saying, “[I]t does not send money to Western North Carolina but merely shuffles money from one fund to another in Raleigh.” The legislature overrode his veto of the bill in December.

Three Republicans who represent counties affected by the storm voted against the bill. In an interview with The Assembly, Republican Representative Mark Pless echoed Cooper’s criticism, “The disaster portion of it doesn’t do anything…[I]t was just moving money from one account to another without actually appropriating it for anything.” He went on to say, “There was a small portion—I think it was $25 million—that goes to debris removal, which is not even a drop in the bucket. But it didn’t do anything to get money to the people that are needing it.”

Boliek’s statement validates Pless’s concerns. He highlights the consequences of the legislature’s failure to provide adequate support to victims of Helene. Boliek knows that the legislature is responsible for funding the government. If there’s no money for temporary housing units, blame the Republicans. They stiffed the victims of disaster relief.

Governing is about priorities. Yesterday, Josh Stein showed that getting people in western North Carolina the support they need is at the top of his agenda. In December, Republicans showed the consolidating power is at the top of theirs. This winter, they left North Carolina residents who need their help out in cold. Boliek’s statement calls them out.