As protesters shout, NC Senate Republicans override Cooper veto of powers-stripping bill
The North Carolina Senate voted to override a veto from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper on Monday amid protests, the latest example of Republicans using their supermajority power after election results indicated they will lose it next month.
The House would have to take a similar vote before Cooper’s veto is overturned and the bill becomes law.
The bill includes some Helene relief but mostly is about policy and taking power away from the next governor, who will also be a Democrat. It was written in secret and fast-tracked, with no committee hearings and with the House starting its debate on the bill less than an hour after it was made public.
Cooper vetoed Senate Bill 382 on Nov. 26, calling it “a sham,” and criticizing the lack of Helene relief and variety of power grabs. Among other things, the bill gives control over the State Board of Elections to the state auditor, taking appointments away from the governor. The next auditor will be Republican Dave Boliek, who was elected in November. The next governor will be Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein. The bill also requires the next attorney general, Democrat Jeff Jackson, to represent the will of the General Assembly.
“This legislation was titled disaster relief but instead violates the constitution,” Cooper said.
Ahead of the override vote, Sen. Ralph Hise asked people to vote despite Cooper’s “spicy language” in his veto.
Hise, a Spruce Pine Republican, described the powers aspect of the bill as “restructuring to the executive branch of the government.”
There was no debate. Just before the vote was called, someone shouted from the packed gallery above the Senate chamber, and Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who was presiding, asked that the entire gallery be cleared because of the disruption.
Gallery cleared after disruption
Democratic Sen. Natasha Marcus protested the move, but the gallery was cleared, and a few more people shouted as they left. There was then a 10-minute recess. Afterward, Robinson said he ejected the people to follow process and keep order.
“I don’t mind hearing these folks’ voices, but I won’t tolerate it on this floor,” Robinson said. The muffled sound of people shouting “shame, shame” outside the chamber could be heard on the floor.
Shortly after, the Senate held its override vote, which fell along party lines, 30-19.
Mark Swallow, of Cary, was one of the protesters who was removed from the gallery.
“I think it’s outrageous. This is our house – it’s the people’s house,” he said.
“We should be able to feed back our views on this legislation, but they don’t want to hear it so they’re kicking us out.”
Swallow carried a sign saying “stop the steal,” which he said was a reference to the portions of the bill that remove powers from newly elected Democrats.
“It’s truly a power grab by the Republican-controlled legislature while they have their supermajority, and it’s unconstitutional, it’s un-American,” he said.
Many stood around and watched from behind the glass, but some left after being removed from the gallery.
After the session, Senate leader Phil Berger said he had “no quarrel” with how Robinson handled the situation.
“Our system is not a system that allows for crowds to get unruly while this body, or the (House), is attempting to conduct business. It’s an impossible situation you’d put the sergeant-at-arms in if you have them judge which of the folks up there were creating a disturbance,” Berger told reporters on the Senate floor.
“And the more important thing is that this body is allowed and is able to do its work. And I dare say, a lot of those folks probably came together with folks who were acting up. They need to talk to their friends and explain to them that you’re hurting not just yourself, but you’re hurting other people who weren’t acting up, sort of like in kindergarten, the folks that act up end up making the whole class suffer,” Berger said.
Latest of many veto overrides
Democratic Leader Robert Reives said during the House debate about two weeks ago Democrats were not part of crafting the bill.
“We seem to be about retribution. We seem to be about punishment. We seem to be about control,” Reives said.
While the November election returned Senate Republicans with a supermajority for the 2025 legislative session, the House will be one vote short of total control in the new year.
Republicans have successfully overturned all 11 vetoes from Cooper so far in 2024.
Stein, who takes office as governor in January, told The News & Observer in a statement on Monday that the bill “plays politics.”
“People in western North Carolina are hurting. Job one for every elected official should be helping them recover and rebuild. Instead of providing funding for western North Carolina, this bill plays politics and undermines the people’s vote. I will work tirelessly to help western North Carolina, and I urge the General Assembly to join me,” Stein said.
This story was originally published December 2, 2024 at 1:04 PM.
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