NC House chamber (Photo: Clayton Henkel)
Republicans in the North Carolina House made short work of three of Governor Roy Cooper’s vetoes on Wednesday during a marathon session.
The first veto to fall was House Bill 198, “Department of Transportation Legislative Changes.” Rep. Tim Longest (D-Wake) urged his colleagues to vote against the override and protect redbud trees from overzealous cutting by billboard companies.
“If we don’t want to see North Carolina look more like South Carolina, I’d encourage you to vote against this [override]” said Longest.
Cooper’s veto was overridden 74-42.
Rep. Marcia Morey (Photo: NCGA video stream)
Next up was the governor’s veto of House Bill 834, legislation that would modify the definition of “delinquent juvenile” and send more 16- and 17-year-olds to the adult court system.
“Juvenile justice is not a slap on the wrist. It is holding them accountable. The governor vetoed this bill because it is rolling back what we did on Raise the Age,” reminded Rep. Marcia Morey, a former chief district court judge. “The only reason I have heard this bill has come up is for one reason alone, expediency. I don’t think you’ll find the definition of justice is expediency. We are dealing with minors.”
Her argument did not sway those in the majority. The governor’s veto was overridden 70-46.
The final veto override of the day was saved for one of the most controversial bills of the short session: House Bill 237.
This measure (“Various Criminal and Election Law Changes”) was initially a proposal that sought to regulate the wearing of masks in public. Later, however, it was revised to include language that will dramatically change the state’s campaign finance laws.
Governor Cooper said in his veto message that the bill would keep voters in the dark while allowing “anonymous out-of-state billionaires to flood North Carolina with campaign contributions to rescue extreme right-wing candidates that Republicans now fear will lose.”
Rep. Maria Cervania (Photo: NCGA video stream)
Rep. John Torbett (R-Gaston) said that section of the bill merely “helps level the playing field.”
But Rep. Maria Cervania (D-Wake) argued the mask provision was leading to people with serious health conditions to be harassed.
She shared the story of one constituent undergoing treatment for stage four cancer with a weakened immune system who was assaulted for trying to protect herself with a medical mask.
“He proceeded to cough on her, spit on her, and tell her he hoped the cancer will kill her,” said Cervania. “Masks for cancer patients have been used years upon years are now political statements, and we’re making the situation actively worse for them.”
On a 70-46 vote, the House rejected Cooper’s veto allowing the mask restrictions and campaign finance changes to stand.
All three bills are expected to be considered in the Senate for override votes as well, where Republicans also hold a supermajority.
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