RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina is still without a new state budget. On Monday, Governor Josh Stein urged state lawmakers to pass funding for what he is calling critical needs. Stein says the stop-gap $1.4 billion plan would take care of the most urgent priorities, while giving lawmakers in the General Assembly more time to work on a full budget. But right now, the governor says funding things like health care is critical. Stein says, “I’m hoping that we’re at a point in the political cycle where we can put our differences and political disputes behind us, and put to the front what is going to help the people of North Carolina.” $319 million of Governor Stein’s plan would go straight to fully funding Medicaid, which provides health coverage to over three million people across North Carolina. ...read more read less