On June 30th, our state budget expired. However, lawmakers have yet to pass a new budget for this fiscal year. Why? Because our leaders in both chambers are working to legalize four new casino cesspools in North Carolina and expand video lottery terminals to every county in the state as part of the budget deal.

Last week, budget negotiations broke down, as reported by WRAL, after 30 courageous Republican members of the House refused to vote for a budget that legalizes predatory gambling. By insisting that predatory gambling be part of the state budget, legislative leaders have threatened much-needed funding already agreed to in the budget for pregnancy care centers and the universal opportunity scholarship program. As we reported to you back in April, we were thrilled to see these needed initiatives be included in the budget, and we have worked very hard for many years to see them come to fruition.

However, our Republican leadership is now holding monies for pregnancy centers and universal school choice hostage unless legislators support casino cesspools and video lottery terminals. These family-values initiatives will die, if casinos and video lottery terminals keep the budget from passing.