NC Senate overrides governors veto

RALEIGH — On Monday evening the N.C. Senate voted to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of Senate Bill 68, which creates an ethics and elections enforcement board with eight members, half Democrats and half Republicans, all appointed by the governor.Senate Bill 68 was a second attempt by the Republican-led General Assembly to reform the State Board of Elections after Cooper sued and a judicial panel ruled a previous bill violated the constitutionally mandated separation of powers. Lawmakers adjusted the legislation to address judges concerns. In addition to giving Cooper the appointment powers, a simple majority vote — down from a supermajority of six to just five out of eight — would now be required to make decisions regarding elections and ethics issues, a move legislators hope will encourage bipartisan cooperation.”It is ironic that Gov. Cooper lectured the legislature about pursuing ‘partisan power grabs’ when he vetoed a bill creating a bipartisan board to ensure our ethics and elections laws are enforced fairly — and for no other reason than to strengthen his own political advantage,” said Senate Rules Committee Chairman Bill Rabon (R-Brunswick) in a statement following the override vote. “I am confident this change — which actually answers the court’s call to let the governor make all appointments to that board — is a step in the right direction for North Carolina.”However, Cooper said the issue will go back to court. Following his veto last week Cooper threatened to sue again if the legislature should override his veto.”Last time they passed this, it was struck down as unconstitutional in court. If they ignore the Constitution and override my veto, I will fight them in court again,” he said in a statement Friday.The House is expected to take up the override measure soon.