N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper gives ‘State of the State’ address

RALEIGH, N.C. (WBTV) - North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper delivered his State of the State address Monday night.

It was the fourth and final time he’ll present the address; because of term limits, he cannot run for the governor’s seat again.

Cooper said one of the biggest accomplishments in North Carolina is the continued job growth across the state.

“In 2022 NC Was named the number one state in the country for business,” cooper said to a round of applause.

Cooper also addressed the need to invest in students across the state and said the budget he plans to introduce will focus on providing raises to teachers as well as investing in students and other services. He said the budget he plans to introduce will not raise taxes and balances the budget he said.

He also announced a new plan in the works that will be revealed in the coming days regarding a comprehensive mental health plan.

“Time and again, overcoming adversity, our leaders had the foresight and the resolve to invest in new ideas that have revolutionized our state, impacting the generations that followed,” said Governor Cooper. “And while we stand on their shoulders, we also stand at an altogether new crossroads. One that demands we have the same clarity of purpose, the same innovation, the same determination that brought us here. Our moment to build enduring prosperity is now. And I know that North Carolina is ready.”

Cooper said that the state is also spending billions of dollars to help rebuild water systems in nearly every county across NC.

North Carolina’s Medicaid expansion has been a point of contention for years but the General Assembly recently agreed to a bipartisan deal that will expand the program.