NC GOP Enact Law Eroding Gov Powers    12/12 06:36

   

   RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- North Carolina lawmakers on Wednesday enacted a law 
over the governor's veto that would diminish the powers afforded to his 
successor and other other Democratic statewide winners in the Nov. 5 elections.

   In a 72-46 vote, the Republican-dominated House overrode Democratic Gov. Roy 
Cooper's veto a week after the GOP-controlled Senate voted to do the same.

   Like during the Senate vote, opponents to the power-shifting bill sat in the 
gallery and disrupted the chambers' floor proceedings. More than 150 people 
gathered on the third floor -- more than the House gallery could seat. They 
chanted "shame" as the override vote completed and continued to yell as they 
were escorted out.

   After warning disruptors they would face arrest if they didn't quiet down 
and leave the building, General Assembly police arrested one woman who refused 
to leave, said police Chief Martin Brock, adding that she would face charges of 
trespassing, resisting arrest and violating building rules.

   Many provisions within the 132-page law seek to diminish powers afforded to 
Gov.-elect Josh Stein, incoming attorney general Jeff Jackson, the next 
Democratic lieutenant governor and the schools superintendent. They all take 
office early next month. One of the most significant changes shifts the power 
to appoint State Board of Elections members from the governor to the state 
auditor, who will be a Republican next year.

   For decades, the governor has selected its five members, with the governor's 
party usually taking three seats. The enacted law transfers that power to the 
state auditor starting in spring. This, in turn, means Republicans will likely 
hold majorities on the state board and the county election boards.

   The legislation also weakens the governor's authority to fill vacancies on 
the state Court of Appeals and Supreme Court and prevents the attorney general 
from taking legal positions contrary to the General Assembly in litigation 
challenging a law's validity. Several post-election deadlines will move up 
under the law after Republican complaints that counties took too long to count 
provisional and absentee ballots, especially in light of an extremely close 
Supreme Court race.

   The veto override took place in the final days of a lame-duck General 
Assembly session where Republicans hold exactly the number of seats necessary 
to override vetoes without help from Democrats.

   That won't be the case much longer -- barring a successful election protest 
that would flip a race's result -- after Democrats picked up one more House 
seat in the general elections.

   Despite ultimately succeeding in their override, House Republicans had some 
difficulty staying unified. Some GOP lawmakers from western North Carolina -- 
where Hurricane Helene caused historic flooding -- initially voted against the 
measure last month. But all three -- Reps. Mike Clampitt, Karl Gillespie and 
Mark Pless -- ended up voting to override the veto.

   Part of the criticism levied against the bill centered on the $252 million 
of Helene recovery funds attached to it, most of which can't be spent until the 
General Assembly acts again.

   In his veto message, Cooper called the bill a sham in which Republicans used 
Helene and "disaster relief" in its title to mask unconstitutional political 
power grabs -- a message repeated by House Democrats and Stein.

   "It is despicable for the Republicans in the General Assembly to use folks' 
incredible need for aid to cloak their political pettiness," Stein said in a 
statement after Wednesday's vote.

   Other opponents to the bill said at a Wednesday news conference that GOP 
lawmakers weren't serving western North Carolinians and instead were 
undermining democracy.

   "Western North Carolina is not a toy to be played with. It is not an 
opportunity to exploit. It is not a place to be so violently disrespected," 
said Sam Stites, a Transylvania County staff member from advocacy group Just 
Economics of Western North Carolina.

   Republicans point out they had already allocated more than $900 million to 
Helene relief since October, with plans for more funding next session. Caldwell 
County Republican Rep. Destin Hall, who is expected to be the House speaker 
next year, further defended the bill's executive power shifts as the 
legislature's constitutional right.

   "This body is entirely committed to helping folks in this state with storm 
relief," Hall said. "So, in my opinion, what's happened is political football 
has been made out of this bill."

   It's likely the new law will soon be mired in litigation -- just like eight 
years ago, after Republicans passed laws weakening Cooper's powers just before 
he took office.

   "Of course it's going to go to court," outgoing House Speaker Tim Moore, a 
congressman-elect, told reporters after the vote. "That's just the way it is."

   The House also secured for the November 2026 statewide ballot a proposed 
constitutional amendment to require all North Carolina voters show photo 
identification before voting. The constitution currently only specifies that 
it's required for in-person voting. ID exceptions are afforded now and would 
continue with the amendment, and laws separate from the state constitution 
already direct voters to provide a photo ID copy when voting by mail.