Despite protests, NC Senate overrides Cooper’s veto of bill that shifts executive power
Demonstrators protest the veto override of Senate Bill 382 from outside the Senate chamber on Dec. 2, 2024. (Christine Zhu/NC Newsline)
Republicans in the North Carolina Senate voted Monday to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of a wide-ranging bill shifting power and authority within state government. The vote was 30-19 with one excused absence. A three-fifths vote is necessary to override a gubernatorial veto.
A full override is still pending a vote in the House, where three Republicans opposed the bill when it passed last month. A vote is not expected until sometime next week.
Senate Bill 382, branded by Republicans as a third round of aid after Hurricane Helene, makes a litany of changes to executive power, appointments and elections. It shifts power away from newly elected Democrats, and makes deadlines for voting absentee and counting absentee ballots more strict.
Cooper vetoed the bill last week, calling it a “sham” that violates the state constitution and “shuffles money” rather than providing meaningful hurricane aid.
Republicans have touted the bill as another measured step in the state’s response to Helene, while making needed fixes across state government.
“I continue to ask for your support for this bill,” said Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell). “Despite the spicy language the governor tried to throw into his veto message, this is good policy for the state of North Carolina.”
Democrats have blasted the bill as a Republican power grab. Sen. Mary Willis Bode (D-Granville) said last month that the bill was an equivalent to “injuring the other team’s players in the final minutes of a game they know they’re going to lose.”
It remains to be seen whether any of the Republican “no” votes in the House will flip to support an override when they meet next week to vote.
Those lawmakers are all from western North Carolina — Majority Whip Karl Gillespie (R-Macon), Rep. Mike Clampitt (R-Swain) and Rep. Mark Pless (R-Haywood). If all members are present, support from all of the chamber’s 72 Republicans will be required for an override to succeed.
Continued protests lead to break in Senate debate, gallery cleared
Protesters against the bill returned to the Legislative Building Monday, filling the Senate gallery as debate began.
They applauded when Cooper’s veto message was read in full by the clerk. And when they began booing and shouting during debate, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson — who presides over the Senate — had the gallery cleared.
“There is a time to protest, but it is not in the halls of this chamber,” Robinson said as the sergeants-at-arms had protesters escorted out.
Karen Ziegler, who was among the protesters, was barred from re-entering the building.
“It kills our democracy and it has no reasonable relief for hurricane victims,” Ziegler said of the bill. “This is ridiculous. This is fascism.”
Anderson Clayton, the chair of the NC Democratic Party, was also present in the gallery.
“[Republicans] would do anything to make a mockery of people giving their hard work and time and energy to make a statement about how they feel,” Clayton said. “That this bill was forced through without any sort of actual public referendum on it.”
