NC Senate Override Awaits House Decision

The North Carolina Senate voted to override Governor Roy Cooper's veto of Senate Bill 382, a controversial bill that reassigns significant executive powers away from the governor and other newly elected Democratic officials. The bill, presented as a relief effort for Hurricane Helene, has been criticized by Cooper and others for offering little actual disaster relief and instead serving as a 'massive power grab.' It reallocates $227 million to the Helene relief fund but delays significant spending, which Cooper argued leaves Western North Carolina without immediate aid. The bill also restructures appointments for the State Board of Elections and limits the attorney general's powers, shifting some appointments from the governor to other state officials. The override of the veto by the Senate, achieved without debate and amid public protests, requires a similar vote by the House to become law. Republican lawmakers maintain that the bill is crucial for effective governance and long-term disaster preparedness.