North Carolina Republicans overrode a veto from outgoing Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper on Wednesday, passing SB 382, a controversial bill that systematically strips key powers from several statewide offices voters elected Democrats to in this year's election, per ABC 11.
The vote, which saw widespread protests at the state capitol, was originally scheduled for Monday but was pushed out two days as the GOP legislature wrangled to get enough votes from reluctant members of the caucus.
The bill is ostensibly about authorizing aid to areas devastated by Hurricane Helene earlier this year; however, among other things, it also strips Gov.-elect Josh Stein of the power to appoint the state board of elections, limits Attorney General-elect Jeff Jackson's authority to intervene in cases where the state legislature's actions are challenged in court, and eliminates Superintendent-elect Mo Green's powers to oversee the state's charter school system.
The bill also reconfigures the state court system to eliminate certain districts where judges commonly overrule GOP legislation, and cuts the amount of time voters have to cure defective ballots — which helped decide several close races in the Democrats' favor this year.
In addition to electing several statewide Democrats, voters also stripped the GOP of its legislative supermajority; however, that supermajority moved to pass this legislation weeks before the new session was to be sworn in.
"The people of western North Carolina are desperate for help from their state government," Stein said in a statement. "Yet, this bill is a power grab, not hurricane relief. It is despicable for the Republicans in the General Assembly to use folks' incredible need for aid to cloak their political pettiness. The legislature needs to step up and do its job. If they do, they will find a good-faith partner in me. I'm ready to get to work."
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