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North Carolina House Majority Leader Brendan Jones isn’t mincing words. We interviewed Jones this week, the Columbus County Republican blasted Gov. Josh Stein and progressive Democrats for what he calls fiscal recklessness and a dangerous soft spot for criminals.
He also described the chasm between the House and Senate budgets.
Jones, who has been in weekly budget fights since January, said the two chambers are locked in a standoff over the state’s two-year spending plan.
The House, he insists, is focused on pay raises for teachers and state employees, cost-of-living adjustments for retirees, and funding for small-town projects.
The Senate? Tying pet projects to must-pass bills.
“The Senate wants to handcuff us to $300 million for a children’s hospital,” Jones said. “Duke’s got an $8 billion endowment. UNC’s got billions more. Why should taxpayers bail them out again? That’s not good government.”
He also hammered Josh Stein, accusing the Democratic governor of playing political games with Medicaid. “Medicaid is fully funded until May 2026,” Jones said. “Stein made arbitrary cuts to use as a bargaining chip. We won’t be intimidated. The General Assembly holds the checkbook — not him.”
Jones was especially fiery on crime, recounting heartbreaking testimony from families of murdered young women in Charlotte.
“These monsters had dozens of prior arrests. One had 39 arrests and 25 felonies, yet only served 600 days. The system failed,” he said. “And Democrats want us to feel sorry for the criminal? Not on my watch.”
The Majority Leader touted his record on tough-on-crime legislation, pointing to Iryna’s Law (ending no-cash bail), his previous ICE cooperation bill, and efforts to restore the death penalty.
“We’re going to give the governor (death penalty) options. If one method isn’t available, he’ll have to choose another. But killers don’t get a free pass.”
Jones also ripped DEI policies in the justice system, calling them a revolving door for violent offenders. “We wrote the bill to get rid of DEI because it’s letting dangerous criminals back on the streets,” he said.
When asked about faith, Jones pivoted to what he sees as a spiritual revival among young people after recent tragedies. “Out of heartbreak comes revival,” he said, noting a surge in under-30 church attendance. “Charlie Kirk used to say, ‘Make heaven as crowded as possible.’ That’s our mission now.”
For Jones, the fight is both political and moral.
“This isn’t Republican versus Democrat,” he said. “It’s good versus evil. North Carolina taxpayers deserve accountability, victims deserve justice, and the state deserves leadership that won’t cave to political games.”
As the budget battle rages and Stein sits on Iryna’s Law, Jones left no doubt: “We’re going to keep our state safe. And we’re not going to risk it with a reckless budget or weak leadership.”
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