Raleigh, N.C. — Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican, has asked the legislature to reverse course on drug treatment courts, a program that the GOP-led legislature has moved away from funding.

"I ask you to please send me legislation which will re-establish our drug treatment courts," McCrory said during his State of the State address Monday night.

"In 2011, the General Assembly cut state funding for the program, eliminating 33 DTC coordinators and managers," WRAL News reported in a 2012 documentary. "The cuts closed down five DTCs and limited the operation of others. As other states expand DTCs because they save money and lives while reducing crime and recidivism, many question why North Carolina would do the opposite."

Those cuts were made under the supervision of the same Republican leaders who are now in charge of the General Assembly.

McCrory has not mentioned drug courts in many of his prior public speaking occasions, so the item was a new one for this year's public policy radar. It's unclear how lawmakers will respond to the request.