The Batch Brief (August 15, 2025)

Welcome to The Batch Brief!

Friends,

Every week in the General Assembly, I’m reminded of two things: first, that the choices our leaders make have a direct impact on our daily lives. And second, that too often, those choices reflect the wrong priorities.

This week’s stories show exactly what I mean. Whether it’s a reckless tax credit that could drain billions from our government, or the stubbornly high grocery prices straining family budgets, each reminds us what happens when government focuses — or fails to focus — on the issues that truly matter to people’s lives.

In This Week’s Batch Brief:

🎓 Gov. Stein Vetoes Risky Voucher Tax Credit
🛒 Checkout Reality Check: Grocery Prices Still Climbing
🏅 District 17 Spotlight: A Local Pickleball Star

With gratitude,
Senator Sydney Batch
NC Senate District 17 | Senate Democratic Leader

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Gov. Stein Vetoes Risky Voucher Tax Credit

Last week, Governor Josh Stein vetoed House Bill 87, a bill every Senate Democrat, including Leader Batch, voted against. The bill would have made North Carolina the first state to jump into a brand-new federal program that gives a full tax credit to people who donate to private and religious school voucher programs.

Here’s why this is such a big deal: under this program, donors get every single dollar of their contribution back in federal tax credits. That’s up to $1,700 per person to help pay for private school tuition. But we don’t give full tax credits like this for anything else. Not for disaster relief. Not for caring for a sick parent. Not for child care. Nothing.

Experts warn this one tax credit alone could cost the federal government anywhere from $8 billion to more than $100 billion a year. And because there’s no cap on the total amount, it could easily spiral out of control, taking money away from other public priorities.

Even worse, but totally unsurprising, most of the benefit will go to wealthy families who already send their kids to private schools.

Republicans made North Carolinians wait more than a decade to expand Medicaid, saying it was too expensive. But when it comes to funneling tax dollars toward private school vouchers, is anybody surprised that our Republican supermajority rushed so that we would be the very first state in the nation to pass this tax credit?

Senate Democrats stood united in voting “no” because we believe public money should stay accountable to the public, and that means investing in the public schools that serve every child, in every community.

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Checkout Reality Check: Is your Grocery Bill Getting More Expensive?

If your grocery bill feels worse than ever, you’re not imagining it. A new Associated Press–NORC poll finds that more than half of Americans — 53% — say food costs are a major source of stress, and another third say they’re at least a minor strain.

While we’ve heard for months that “inflation has been slowing,” that doesn’t mean prices have gone down. Inflation works like stacking bricks: when inflation was 9% in 2022, it raised the price of everything. Now that inflation is closer to 2–3%, those higher prices don’t just disappear, they just keep rising more slowly from that new, higher starting number.

It’s like climbing a mountain that keeps getting steeper, even if you’re walking a little slower.

For many families, that means the price of basics like bread, milk, and eggs are still hitting them harder than it did before the pandemic. And for some items, like eggs, beef, and orange juice, they’ve actually gotten even more expensive this year because of a mix of problems including supply chain disruptions, extreme weather, and President Trump’s regressive tariff policies.

That’s why even in a “slowing inflation” economy, the grocery aisle can feel like the most expensive place in town.

The truth is, most people don’t measure the economy by the stock market. They measure it by the receipt in their hand. And right now, that receipt is a weekly reminder that the cost of living is entirely stacked against them.

And, yet, while families struggle with higher bills, many Republican leaders in our state remain focused on headline-grabbing culture war battles and political distractions, rather than tackling the number one concern in people’s lives — fixing an economy where even putting food on the table has become a challenge.

How are skyrocketing grocery prices affecting your family? Share your story and how you’re making it through in the comments.

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District 17 Spotlight: Apex’s Pamela DeLoatch is National Senior Games Standout

District 17 is home to some incredible people, and even a few Pickleball champs, including Apex’s own Pamela DeLoatch.

At 62 years old, Pamela recently competed in the 2025 National Senior Games in Des Moines, Iowa, where she placed 5th in women’s doubles pickleball. Out of more than 12,000 athletes, she was also selected as one of just ten “Humana Game Changers” — a national honor recognizing athletes who inspire others to live active, healthy lives at any age.

Pamela’s journey to the games started by chance when she picked up a pickleball paddle for the first time, but she quickly fell in love with the game. Since then, pickleball has kept her physically active, socially connected, and mentally sharp, and she even founded Black Girl Magic Pickleball, a Raleigh-area group encouraging women in her community to get moving and have fun.

We’re proud to celebrate Pamela’s achievements and the example she’s setting for District 17 and beyond. She’s proof that it’s never too late to try something new, stay active, and inspire those around you.

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Ways to Contact the Office of Leader Batch

📍 Office: North Carolina General Assembly, 16 W. Jones St., Rm. 1026, Raleigh, NC 27601

📞 Phone: 919-733-5653

📧 Email: Sydney.Batch@ncleg.gov

Connect on Social Media

For real-time updates, follow Leader Batch on social media:

• Social Media Links: https://linktr.ee/sydneybatch