Take Action to Oppose Polluter Power Grab in NC House

Pro-polluter leaders in the NC House have run into difficulties in overriding Governor Roy Cooper’s veto of SB 382, the polluter power grab bill masquerading as “disaster relief.” But representatives are scheduled to meet this week to override Cooper’s veto.

The Power Grab

The NC General Assembly came back into session as scheduled on December 2 to consider overriding the Cooper veto. The NC Senate then voted along party lines to override the veto by the bare margin required. After that, however, action stalled in the House, where it appeared that House Republican leaders were having trouble corralling the presence of enough votes to approve the override.

In fact, SB 382 is such a flagrant sham on disaster relief that three Republican legislators from western NC voted against it on its consideration in the House. If even one of those legislators votes no or fails to appear for the veto override vote, the override will fail.

As a result, advocates for the environment, democracy, and voting rights still have an opportunity to block this corrupt attempt to undo the state election results by stripping power from pro-environment leaders elected in November by the voters of North Carolina.

Governor Cooper Vetoes Power Grab

In his veto message, Governor Cooper stripped bare the pretense that SB 382 has anything to do with real disaster relief. “This legislation is a sham,” said Cooper. “It does not send money to Western North Carolina but merely shuffles money from one fund to another in Raleigh. This legislation was titled disaster relief but instead violates the constitution by taking appointments away from the next Governor for the Board of Elections, Utilities Commission and Commander of the NC Highway Patrol, letting political parties choose appellate judges and interfering with the Attorney General’s ability to advocate for lower electric bills for consumers. Instead of giving small business grants to disaster counties it strikes a cruel blow by blocking the extension of better unemployment benefits for people who have lost jobs because of natural disasters. Finally, it plays politics by taking away two judges elected by the people and adding two judges appointed by the legislature, taking away authority from the Lieutenant Governor and the Superintendent of Public Instruction and more.” 

The Fight Against a Polluter Power Grab

NCLCV agreed. “After we elected Josh Stein, Jeff Jackson, and other state officials, the Republican supermajority at the legislature decided to tie hurricane relief to their own political agenda,” said Dan Crawford, NCLCV Director of Governmental Relations. “Senate Bill 382 strips power from the Governor and Attorney General, restricts voting rights, and removes checks and balances in our court system.” Crawford added, “We cannot have a safe, healthy environment without a representative democracy.”

Please contact your State Representatives NOW in defense of voting rights and our democracy!