Reminder: Democrats, Cooper Have Opposed Every Teacher Pay Raise in Last Decade

There’s no Republican-proposed teacher pay raise they would ever support

Raleigh, N.C. — Senate Democrats have opposed every Republican-proposed teacher pay raise in the last 10 years. Gov. Roy Cooper has vetoed every Republican-proposed teacher pay raise that has reached his desk.

Senator Deanna Ballard (R-Watauga) said, “History proves that there is no Republican-proposed teacher pay raise that Gov. Cooper or legislative Democrats would ever support. They opposed a 9.9% pay raise in the last biennium budget. They cynically use teacher pay as a wedge issue by blocking raises, then trying to cast blame on Republicans.”

According to the N.C. Association of Educators’ own parent organization, North Carolina teachers have received the third-highest pay raise in the entire country since 2014.

Here are the average salary increases from 2014 to 2019.

2014–15–7.0% (opposed by Senate Democrats)
2015–16–3.8% (opposed by Senate Democrats)
2016–17–4.7% (opposed by Senate Democrats)
2017–18–3.3% (vetoed by Gov. Cooper, opposed by Senate Democrats)
2018–19–6.5% (vetoed by Gov. Cooper, opposed by Senate Democrats)

Gov. Cooper vetoed the sixth and seventh consecutive teacher pay raises.

Senate Democrats also rejected an offer from Republicans of a 4.9% teacher pay raise plus a $1,000 bonus, citing opposition to the deal from Governor Cooper.

The Democrats’ decision means that teachers will not get a pay raise until at least 2021.

The record is clear. Senate Democrats and Gov. Cooper have never supported a Republican-proposed teacher pay raise, and they probably never will.