NC Senate Democrats are trying to use oversight powers the GOP expanded

Democrats on a legislative commission charged with oversight of state spending were rebuffed when they asked for information about how private schools and crisis pregnancy centers are using taxpayer dollars. 

Democratic members of the legislature’s Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations said they requested information from 69 crisis pregnancy centers and 50 private schools.

Democrats are relying on increased powers Republicans gave the commission last year over Democratic objections that allow the commission, known as Gov Ops, to investigate private companies and charities that receive state money as well as state and local agencies. Expanded powers include giving the commission and commission staff access to private buildings owned or leased by private entities in some cases. 

“We’re taking advantage of the process that’s been created,”said Senate Democratic leader Dan Blue of Raleigh. “As we look at it, that’s our responsibility.” 

While Democrats aren’t used to setting the agenda, “we have an equal interest as Democratic lawmakers in upholding our obligation to be good stewards of the public taxpayer dollars,” he said. 

Democrats for years have objected to public money going to pay K-12 private school tuition and to crisis pregnancy centers, operations that provide pregnant women with ultrasounds and baby supplies while attempting to talk them out of obtaining abortions. Critics contend that the centers spread misinformation. 

Republicans have increased spending on crisis pregnancy centers and vouchers over Democratic protests. Last year, Republicans lifted income eligibility rules to allow all families to qualify for some voucher funds no matter their income. Republicans are now moving to add $463.5 million to the voucher program over the next two years. 

Sen. Gladys Robinson, a Guilford County Democrat, said state spending on Carolina Pregnancy Care Fellowship has increased from $300,000 in 2013 to $12.5 million in the current two-year budget. Rewire reported in 2019 that the state Department of Health and Human Services found Carolina Pregnancy Care Fellowship misspent $50,000 of taxpayer money on religious materials. Carolina Pregnancy Care Fellowship provides a network of offices with training and equipment. 

Among the more than two pages of information Robinson requested from crisis pregnancy centers were credentials of employees and volunteers, whether they comply with the federal patient privacy law, what they do if someone asks for an abortion or an abortion referral, and if they provide medications to people who test positive for sexually transmitted infections. 

“We know that it’s critical that best practices are used in medical services,” Robinson said. 

Questions about enrollment, compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and student demographics were included in the in two pages of questions Guilford County Democratic Sen. Michael Garrett asked private schools that accept vouchers.

Paul “Skip” Stam, a lawyer for Carolina Pregnancy Care Fellowship and Fayetteville Christian School, responded with letters saying that individual Gov Ops members don’t have the power to request such information. 

“No individual member of the Commission has the right to demand anything from anyone, before or after the 2023 amendments to the statute,” Stam wrote. 

Stam is a former Republican state House member from Apex who pushed for both private school vouchers and laws limiting abortion. 

Lawyers for Trinity Christian School and the Human Coalition, an anti-abortion group, responded with similar letters. 

Blue said those interpretations of the law are inaccurate, and there is precedent for individuals requesting information. 

On March 14, Blue said, the UNC system received a request signed by a commission staff member asking for information on diversity, equity, and inclusion training. 

The UNC system last month started a repeal of DEI policies, which could eliminate diversity offices on its campuses, AP reported.

A legislator who is not a member of Gov Ops requested an investigation into Alamance-Burlington School district finances in February, Blue said. 

Blue did not name the legislator, but Sen. Amy Galey, a Burlington Republican, requested that investigation, the Elon News Network reported. Galey announced a few days ago she agreed to put the investigation on hold, the Times News reported. 

“Members of the majority party, whether they serve on Gov Ops or not, seemingly have the authority to make these inquiries,” Blue said. “We’re trying to determine whether we are being stonewalled, as members of the commission.”

Blue said Democrats would continue to seek the information from private schools and pregnancy crisis centers “and pursue all the avenues available to get it.”