RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein signed into law on Wednesday a stopgap spending measure while lawmakers remain in a state budget impasse. But he vetoed legislation that would direct state participation in a yet-implemented federal tax credit program to boost school-choice options, suggesting state Republicans acted hastily.

The Democratic governor had already said this week he would sign the “mini-budget” that the GOP-controlled General Assembly sent him last week. But he called it a poor substitution for a full two-year budget that House and Senate negotiators were unable to finalize before the new fiscal year began July 1.

Instead, Stein said, the spending plan fails to provide substantive pay raises or the full amount needed to cover increased Medicaid expenses. H

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