Mel Umbarger
Posts by Mel Umbarger
DAVE could cut deep: What NC lawmakers buried in spending bill
You might have heard that the North Carolina General Assembly just passed a “minibudget” bill – House Bill 125 – at the end of July. It’s still awaiting the governor’s signature, and tucked inside that bill is something that sounds small but could have big consequences: the creation of a new office called the Division…
Statement on NCGA Legislative Action, from Alexandra Sirota, Executive Director, NC Budget & Tax Center
North Carolina families are anticipating the impact of the harmful Republican federal megabill passed in July that will raise everyday costs and slash support for health care and food assistance — all to hand more tax breaks to the ultrawealthy. Instead of stepping up with a clear plan to protect North Carolina families from these…
Fact Sheet: Unmet Housing Needs in Western NC
Hurricane Helene was the most devastating hurricane to ever hit North Carolina. The storm caused an estimated $12.7 billion in residential damage to about 75,000 homes, including both single- and multi-family units. With homeowners displaced and in need of a place to rent – and while the supply of available rentals was reduced – conditions…
Statement on passage of Congressional budget bill from Heba Atwa, BTC Director of Legislative Advocacy & Campaigns
In the dead of night, behind closed doors, Congress maneuvered the largest cuts to essential social programs in our nation’s history. While their dealmaking was hidden from public view, the devastating consequences will be painfully visible – in empty refrigerators, shuttered clinics, and lost livelihoods across North Carolina and the nation. This legislation threatens the…
Statement on US Senate passage of HR1 from Heba Atwa, BTC Director of Legislative Advocacy & Campaigns
Note: The US Senate passed HR1 on July 1; it now goes to the US House for a final vote. In the United States, poverty and hardship are policy choices. At a time when people are already struggling with high prices and growing barriers to financial stability and opportunity, the US Senate had the choice…
House Republicans’ Extreme Budget Plan Fails North Carolina Families, Children, and Communities
Note: An updated version of this fact sheet about the final bill is available here. House Republicans passed legislation that would raise costs on North Carolina families and take health coverage, food assistance, and other essentials away from North Carolinians who are already struggling to make ends meet – all while showering ever larger tax…
Statement on federal tax cuts and the impact on North Carolina, from the NC Budget & Tax Center
The U.S. House has passed a huge, ugly bill that slashes health care and food assistance in order to fund $121 billion in tax cuts for the richest 1 percent in 2026 alone. These giveaways come at a steep cost to people across the country and here in North Carolina. In our state, the richest…
Statement on NC House’s Proposed Budget by Alexandra Sirota, Executive Director of the NC Budget & Tax Center
In the face of extreme proposals from the NC Senate and mounting pressure from federal budget plans that would dump new costs onto North Carolina, NC House budget writers only made modest moves— far short of what’s needed to protect our communities. The NC House’s revision to the deeply flawed revenue trigger for future rate…
Statement by Alexandra Sirota, Executive Director, on release of details of federal budget proposals
Congressional House leaders have unveiled plans for deeply unpopular cuts to health care and food assistance — cuts that are only needed in order to extend tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy. As we review the details of these plans, some things are clear: Cuts to Medicaid will mean fewer North Carolinians have health care…