As expected, Cooper vetoes “sham” Republican power grab bill

Published November 27, 2024

If North Carolina Republican legislative leaders were hoping to prevent a gubernatorial veto of their ambitious 131-page proposal to reorganize several aspects of state government and take away the powers of statewide offices soon to be filled by Democrats by attaching changes to Hurricane Helene relief legislation, the plan has failed.

Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed the bill this morning. This is from an unusually strong statement that Cooper issued to accompany the veto:

“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. Instead of giving small business grants to disaster counties it strikes a cruel blow by blocking the extension of better unemployment benefits for people who have lost jobs because of natural disasters. Finally, it plays politics by taking away two judges elected by the people and adding two judges appointed by the legislature, taking away authority from the Lieutenant Governor and the Superintendent of Public Instruction and more.”

The General Assembly returns to Raleigh on Monday December 2. With precise supermajorities in both the House and the Senate, Republicans would appear to have the votes necessary to override the veto. It is notable, however, that three House Republicans from western North Carolina — Majority Whip Karl Gillespie (R-Macon), Rep. Mike Clampitt (R-Swain), and Rep. Mark Pless (R-Haywood) — voted ‘no’ on the legislation when it was approved last week. None of the three has yet given a public indication as to how they would vote on an override motion.