Press briefing on need for state leaders’ action on COVID-19 as they return to Raleigh

WHAT: Press briefing on the impacts of legislative inaction on COVID-19
WHEN: Thursday, August 27, 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Zoom (registration is required)
WHO: NC Justice Center staff

RALEIGH (August 26, 2020) – With state lawmakers returning to Raleigh next week, too many North Carolinians are struggling to get by in the face of a mounting economic crisis and persistent public health risks.

North Carolina cannot afford inaction by our state leaders.

Join a team of North Carolina Justice Center experts on Thursday, August 27, to hear more about the hardships facing North Carolinians and the need for action on a range of issues, including Unemployment Insurance, expanding Medicaid, the pandemic’s impact on public education, the moratorium on utility shutoffs, and lessons from the Great Recession that can help North Carolina’s economic recovery.

North Carolina needs a comprehensive policy approach that puts people first to minimize the harm of COVID-19 and jumpstart a recovery. To be most effective, that approach must be inclusive of all people in our state and recognize the disparate impacts being experienced by immigrants and communities of color due to decades of exclusion and underinvestment.

Join us for discussion of the issues facing North Carolina in light of COVID-19, featuring the following speakers:

  • NC’s economic recovery and lessons from the Great Recession: Patrick McHugh, Research Manager, Budget & Tax Center
  • North Carolinians’ frustration at the NC General Assembly’s decision to reject Medicaid Expansion: Hyun Namkoong, Policy Advocate, Health Advocacy Project
  • NC’s enrollment decline could decimate public school budgets: Kris Nordstrom, Senior Policy Analyst, Education & Law Project
  • NC can afford to invest in workers and communities and secure a stronger recovery: Alexandra Sirota, Director of the Budget & Tax Center

Attendees will receive contact information and additional resources including new local data on the impacts of COVID-19 in North Carolina.