North Carolina's governor has vetoed a GOP bill that would weaken his successor and other Democrats

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: AP

Updated 4:40 PM EST, November 26, 2024


RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Outgoing North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed legislation on Tuesday that would strip powers from several Democrats elected to statewide office this month, including removing the authority of Cooper’s successor to appoint the state elections board.

These and other provisions, contained in a wide-ranging measure stuffed through the Republican-dominated General Assembly in less than 24 hours during a lame-duck session last week, would weaken Gov.-elect Josh Stein, as well as the next attorney general, schools superintendent and lieutenant governor — offices that are slated to be run by Democrats next year.

While the bill contains additional Hurricane Helene relief provisions, critics say the amount is relatively small and most of the relief funds can’t even be spent until the General Assembly reconvenes next month. And billions of dollars more in aid may be needed in the coming months.

Democrats and their allies considered disaster items thin window-dressing for a series of partisan power grabs by the GOP before its veto-proof majority potentially goes away at year’s end following the certification of the Nov. 5 General Assembly elections, where a few tight races are undergoing recounts.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-governor-veto-powers-legislature-13e4ee98b3295ef0ebcfc564b6224799

[SunSeeker]

1. Do Republicans have the votes to override his veto? nt

[BumRushDaShow]

2. I think technically (by party numbers) they still have a supermajority and could override

but apparently there were a couple (R)s who didn't support the law.

Thankfully after this past election, the GOP will lose their supermajority when they start their new term- https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2024/11/city-republican-supermajority-general-assembly

[ColinC]

3. So they at least didnt pass it with a veto proof majority?

Good news! I know they tried the same crop in 2016 -also before losing their supermajority. That time it passed but the state supreme court threw it out. Since the state Supreme Court would likely uphold it this time, it's good that it will likely not get the votes it needs...

[BumRushDaShow]

4. I think the hope is that those 3 (R)s (IIRC) who didn't vote for the bill

will hold fast and not vote to override the veto.

[ColinC]

5. Any idea how many they need?

Like do we need all 3 Rs to hold fast, or just one of them?

[BumRushDaShow]

6. Had to hunt (and I think the focus would be on their state House)

but NC apparently needs 3/5th to override (applies to the state House) and the current state House breakdown was 72 (R) - 48 (D). So to override, they need 72 (out of 120) and losing 3 would leave them at 69. So they theoretically just need 1 to vote against an override and the override would fail.

With this past election, (R)s lost a seat and are down to 71.

[ColinC]

7. Thank you!!

makes me feel pretty confident we will be okay.