Have you heard this one? The administration was engaged in a power struggle with the House and Senate, so the lawmakers threaten to hold up nominee confirmations for various appointed posts.
If you've been paying attention to national politics, you've probably heard the same story many times. The blowup over Republicans' threat to delay confirming Attorney General nominee Loretta Lynch, a North Carolina native who would otherwise skate through, is just the latest example of hardball politics from both parties.
We've come to expect Washington to be dysfunctional and irrational. As Mark Twain once observed, "Suppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself."
Unfortunately, it's not just Washington.
Some of our lawmakers in Raleigh seem determined to import the same brand of idiocy. They're engaged in a legal fight with Gov. Pat McCrory over the makeup of state commissions. That the divisions don't involve any partisan issues but simply a turf war between the branches of government may trump even the lunacy of the federal debacle.
McCrory came out ahead in an initial court decision this month on the question of whether the General Assembly can set up certain boards and give itself the power to appoint members. Legislators say they'll appeal, which makes sense. Each side has arguments based on the state Constitution. The final say belongs with the state Supreme Court. It's an important case for how government operates, but not one with everyday significance for most residents.
Leaders in both the state House and Senate said last week they would halt nomination hearings as a result.
"We think we need to have a clear understanding of what are and are not the constitutional roles in making these appointments," said Harnett County's Rep. David Lewis, the House Rules chairman. But that's conflating unrelated issues.
There's no doubt about how this works for the offices lawmakers were supposed to be confirming, including the new SBI director: The governor nominates someone and the General Assembly votes him up or down to confirm the appointment. The very different question before the courts is whether lawmakers can create commission seats for which the governor has no say.
Let's hope someone in Raleigh still has the sanity that's been exhausted in Washington. If there are points of honest disagreement, hash them out, in court if necessary. On all other points, work together to serve the people of this state.
