Gov. Roy Cooper (D-NC) vetoed legislation that would have stripped several powers from incoming North Carolina elected Democratic officials, as the GOP is slated to lose its supermajority next year.
The legislation included relief for parts of the Tar Heel State that are still recovering from Hurricane Helene, but it also included several provisions that would undermine Gov.-elect Josh Stein and incoming Democratic state Attorney General Jeff Jackson, among other Democratic officials. Cooper, whose term ends in January, vetoed the bill on Tuesday, calling it a “sham” and claiming that it does not send money to those affected by the storm.
“This legislation is a sham. It does not send money to Western North Carolina but merely shuffles money from one fund to another in Raleigh. This legislation was titled Disaster Relief but instead violates the constitution by taking appointments away from the next governor for the Board of Elections, Utilities Commission, and Commander of the NC Highway Patrol, letting political parties choose appellate judges and interfering with the Attorney General’s ability to advocate for lower electric bills for consumers,” Cooper said in a statement.
Republicans will lose their supermajority in the state House next year after failing to maintain the necessary seats in this month’s election. The GOP is expected to hold a supermajority in the state Senate, but without control of both chambers, Stein will hold an effective veto against Republicans.
The legislation attempted to change how the state elections board is appointed, changing appointment power from the governor to the state auditor — who will be a Republican. The move would have paved the way for the state elections board to have a GOP majority, rather than the current Democratic majority, in line with the governor’s party.
It also aimed to block the state attorney general from taking the side against the state legislature’s position regarding legislation being challenged in court and would have prevented the state superintendent of public instruction from appealing decisions from a state review board for charter school applications.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The state legislature could still override the veto on the legislation next week in session, as the GOP still has their supermajority until the new state General Assembly is brought into office in January.
Republicans would need all their state House and Senate members to be present and vote uniformly in favor of the legislation to override Cooper’s veto. Three state House Republicans voted against the initial vote, citing concerns over the disaster relief portions of the legislation not doing enough.
