House Speaker outlines Republican vision for North Carolina, focusing on economic growth, school choice, and immigration reform

North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, shared the vision of Republicans in the state legislature in his response to Democratic Gov. Josh Stein’s State of the State address Wednesday night. Hall emphasized that the Republican agenda focuses on common-sense issues that align with the views of most North Carolinians.

He said people saw a different tone from Republicans in the state legislature when Stein gave his address, if compared to Washington, DC and Democrats’ response to President Trump. . Hall accused DC Democrats of being guided by petty arguments and failed policies of former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris, the Republicans in the General Assembly are focused on a more constructive approach.

“(The) policies that left our borders open to criminal illegal aliens, sent inflation soaring, and allowed grown men to compete in women’s sports,” he said. “We won’t stand for it. Voters in North Carolina and across the country made it clear in November: you rejected the radical agenda of the left because you believe as I do that our state and our nation deserve better.”

He added that the Republican-led General Assembly, which has been in control for the past 14 years, will continue to advocate for common-sense policies that support families and uphold the values that make North Carolina strong. He emphasized that Republicans are focused on boosting the state’s economy, rebuilding western North Carolina, investing in education, and working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to remove criminal illegal aliens from the state.

Hall listed Republicans’ accomplishments, including:

• Cutting taxes, leaving more money for working families and entrepreneurs.
• Cut red tape that chokes small businesses and drives up housing costs.
• Promoting reliable, low-cost energy like natural gas and nuclear power.
• Standing by law enforcement and making the state safer by rejecting the Democrats’ dangerous sanctuary policies that protect illegal aliens from justice.

Hall said that while there is more work to do, from tackling crime, making everyday life more affordable, eliminating DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) in state agencies, and rebuilding western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, the results of Republicans’ hard work speak for themselves.

“Despite the nation’s economic strain of Bidenomics and inflation, North Carolina has remained an economic powerhouse, thanks to Republican leadership,” Hall stated. “We’ve cut poverty in the state by nearly one-third in the past 12 years, and thanks to that leadership, our state is consistently ranked as one of the best states for business. When sound conservative policies focus on the needs of the people, success follows, and now, under President Trump’s leadership, the clear mandate from the American people, our nation is entering a new golden age of strength and prosperity by pursuing policies that mirror North Carolina’s own method of success and common sense.”

Trump’s immigration policies, he said, will have the full support of the North Carolina General Assembly, mentioning legislation enacted last year that requires law enforcement to cooperate with ICE to keep criminal illegal aliens off the streets, but noted that many Democratic officials in the state still want to ‘keep pursuing the same failed open borders policies of the Biden administration.’

“So just this week, we introduced new legislation to close loopholes exploited by those who would seek to turn North Carolina into a sanctuary state if local sheriffs avoid cooperating with federal ICE officials,” Hall added.

He also pointed to the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act passed in North Carolina last year, long before President Trump signed a similar executive order, to keeps men out of women’s sports,

Opportunity Scholarships were indirectly referenced when Hall stated that every child in the state should have access to quality education that suits their needs, regardless of their income or zip code. He also emphasized that parents should have excellent options, whether they choose public or private schools.

“Ultimately, it’s parents, not bureaucrats, who should choose the best learning environment for their children,” he said.

Hall stressed that supporting school choice and dedicated public school teachers are not competing goals.

“They’re two sides of the same coin,” he remarked. “Empowering families and investing in our teachers builds a stronger, brighter future for all of North Carolina’s children.” He added that the GA has consistently invested and will continue to invest in more meaningful teacher raises.

In addition, Hall assured North Carolinians that the General Assembly will continue to invest in the state’s universities and community college systems, calling them ‘the best in the world.’ He urged investing in education to draw businesses for a quality, educated workforce.

Hall then turned to Hurricane Helene noting that more than 100 men and women died, and thousands more lost their businesses, jobs, and way of life. He took aim at the slow responses of the Biden and Cooper administrations as people were left without shelter, internet, and cellphone service for weeks. Bridges and roads were impassable, trapping many.

Hall said that through this adversity, the true American spirit was shown, of resilience, neighbor helping neighbor and strangers helping strangers, and heroes emerged, like Dr. Alyssa Tilly, who helped set up a field hospital in Yancey County.

“When government fails, the people step up,” he said. “North Carolinians don’t wait for handouts that may never come. We roll up our sleeves and get the job done.”

Hall added that the General Assembly has made Helene recovery its top priority, and that the House recently passed its fourth Helene bill with an additional $500 million in recovery funds, and will continue to support western North Carolina for as long as it takes.

He echoed Stein’s bipartisan message of working together on this issue while noting that they will not repeat the mistakes of the Cooper administration’s botched attempt to help Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Florence survivors out nearly a decade later.

“He and I both recognize the long road ahead and the need for us all to rise to the moment, setting aside petty partisanship for the sake of our neighbors as we rebuild western North Carolina,” Hall said. “Rest assured, we will not repeat the mistakes of the Cooper administration’s failed response to Hurricanes Florence and Matthew almost a decade later. Thousands of people in eastern North Carolina are still being forced to live in hotels, and that is completely unacceptable, and it should be a national scandal. We cannot, and we will not let that happen again anywhere in our state.”

He ended his speech by saying whether a Republican or a Democrat, the challenges North Carolinian’s face cross party lines. He called for cutting taxes and regulations, growing jobs, protecting our values, and standing for law and order, saying more freedom breeds more opportunity and growth.

“North Carolina Republicans have set the standard for responsible leadership that puts people first,” Hall stated. “North Carolina has proven that when Conservatives lead with encouragement, people prosper. Everything President Trump has fought for, tax cuts, deregulation, protecting values, and enforcing the law, North Carolina Republicans have delivered on. As we enter a new era in North Carolina, the General Assembly will continue to build on the policies that have made our success the envy of the nation.”