Lawmakers set to return to Raleigh – again

State lawmakers left Raleigh on Thursday with plans to return in October for the third time since their regular session ended in June.

And under an adjournment resolution that outlines their plans, they’ll be able to take votes on just about any matter they want – including redrawing the state’s judicial districts and setting in motion impeachment proceedings.

Rep. Darren Jackson, the House Democratic leader, opposed the resolution Thursday morning before it cleared the Republican-controlled General Assembly – calling it “open-ended.”

“It’s wide open – we can do about anything we want,” Jackson said. “I signed up to serve in a part-time legislature. I don’t know about you, I would like to see us return to those days.”

The new adjournment resolution will bring lawmakers back at 12 p.m. on Oct. 4. They’d previously planned on returning later in September. The resolution lays out more than 13 criteria for what bills can be considered. Lawmakers can take up not only various redistricting changes (including city election districts), but also proposed amendments to the state constitution as well as responses to any lawsuits.

This week, the legislature approved new maps for the state House and Senate.

Jackson also opposed the resolution because of the provision that would allow consideration of a bill relating to impeachment. Rep. Chris Millis, a Republican from Hampstead, has proposed creating a committee to investigate Secretary of State Elaine Marshall.

Millis alleges Marshall illegally commissioned noncitizens as notaries public. Marshall responded in June, saying she believed it was a political attack. Marshall is a Democrat.

The House approved the adjournment resolution on a 60-40 vote. The Senate approved the resolution on Wednesday with a vote of 32-8.

This story was originally published August 31, 2017 at 5:00 PM with the headline "Lawmakers set to return to Raleigh – again."