NORTH CAROLINA, USA — Controversy is swirling over new legislation connected to recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene.
On Tuesday, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper vetoed a Republican-backed relief package that would strip power away from his successor, Governor-elect Josh Stein, and other Democrats who won their elections earlier this month.
State Republicans are pushing to pass Senate Bill 382 before losing their supermajority next year.
In a press release, Cooper called the legislation "a sham" and accused it of violating the law.
"This legislation was titled disaster relief" said Cooper, "but instead violated 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."
At the Capitol building, the fight for electoral control woven into the storm relief package has sparked pushback.
"Governor Cooper – veto the bill," said Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, president of Repairers of the Breach. "Those that are principled legislators don’t override the veto."
Last week, state lawmakers passed SB 382, which provides $227 million for disaster relief. However, it would also weaken the powers of the incoming governor, attorney general, and school superintendent, who are all Democrats.
Currently, the governor appoints members to the state board of elections, but the bill would transfer that power to the state auditor, who will be an elected Republican.
"The veto means the clock has started for a potential veto override by state lawmakers," said Dr. David McLennan, professor and political Analyst at Meredith College.
Why this push now?
Republicans hold a supermajority, or three-fifths of the voting body, meaning they can override the governor's veto and allow a bill to become law anyway. However, the GOP lost the supermajority in November's general election, which leaves them only weeks to act before Governor-elect Stein and others are sworn in.
Three House Republicans from areas hit hard by Helene are showing they do not support the bill and voted with Democrats.
"This is putting them in a little bit of a bind as well because do they want to delay or even hurt their chances of their counties or their people getting aid that they desperately need just to score some political points," said McLennan.
This is not the first attempt to change appointment powers in North Carolina, but judges have blocked previous attempts.