Republicans in the North Carolina legislature have proposed spending $35 million next year to improve school safety in response to school shootings, but the state's Democratic governor says the amount falls fall short of what is needed.
The Charlotte Observer reports that the Republican proposal is far less than the $130 million plan Gov. Roy Cooper has proposed.
Republicans says they plan to seek more money from the federal government, through the Medicaid government insurance program, to help pay for mental health and other services.
Cooper spokesman Ford Porter says the Republican proposal is inadequate.
“Legislative Republicans’ misguided priorities are perfectly captured by their plan to fund tax giveaways for the wealthy and corporations while shortchanging youth mental health and school safety," Porter says. "These programs are important and the legislature’s investment is simply not enough to protect our students."
The GOP proposal did not include gun control measures that Cooper and Democrats in the legislature have proposed.
Plans to address school safety were put into motion after 17 people were killed in February at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.
Included in the $35 million is $10 million for mental health personnel. That $10 million will go to schools in the form of grants.
