Latest news with #JoshStein
Epoch Times
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Epoch Times
North Carolina General Assembly Overrides Governor's Vetos to Pass Laws
The North Carolina General Assembly, the state's legislature, voted to override several vetoes issued by Gov. Josh Stein, allowing the bills to become law. Although Stein, a Democrat, won by a 14-point margin in the 2024 election, the General Assembly's makeup remained largely unchanged, with Republicans retaining a three-fifths majority in both the Senate and House.
Toronto Star
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Some North Carolina Democratic lawmakers break from party to pass Republican priorities
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republican lawmakers on Tuesday overrode several vetoes by Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, getting just enough votes from Stein's own party to enact some laws while falling short on others. The votes were key tests for Republican General Assembly leaders since they narrowly lost their veto-proof majority following last fall's elections.
New York Times
18 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Times
N.C. Republicans Push Through Contested Agenda on ‘Veto Override Day'
It was only one vote. But by flipping a seat in the State House last fall, Democrats in North Carolina managed to break, just barely, a Republican supermajority that had allowed conservatives to dominate the state legislature for two years. With Josh Stein, a Democrat, in the governor's mansion, it appeared his party would now have the chance to slow Republicans' stampeding approach to lawmaking, which included enacting a ban on most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy and power grabs that made the governor's office weaker. But one vote has proved to be too thin a margin, at least on some issues. Republican lawmakers on Tuesday overrode eight vetoes that Mr. Stein had issued during this legislative session, on issues from education to guns, in some cases by picking up a single Democratic defector. On Wednesday, Republicans planned to try pushing through six more bills over the governor's veto, including on some issues where voters are deeply divided, such as allowing adults to carry concealed handguns without a permit. The override effort comes at a moment when Democrats in North Carolina and elsewhere are searching for a path forward after a loss of power in Washington. Though the state's electorate is fairly split, Republicans have largely dominated the legislature over the past decade and increased the party's seats in Congress by gerrymandering. The state's Supreme Court, also dominated by conservatives, has upheld the skewed district maps giving Republicans a near lock on the General Assembly. Breaking the party's supermajority put a dent in the Republican armor, but has done little to force compromise. Government divided at the state level is increasingly rare nationwide, making the showdown over vetoes this week highly unusual. In 38 states, one party now has control of both houses of the legislature and the governor's mansion, a political stranglehold known as a 'trifecta.' Even without that, Republicans in North Carolina have become accustomed to winning. Representative Destin Hall, the Republican speaker of the State House, exuded confidence before voting started on Tuesday in a post on social media: 'Happy Veto Override Day to all who celebrate.' Mr. Stein cast himself as a moderate Democrat while campaigning last year against his firebrand opponent, Mark Robinson. He has tried to extend an olive branch to Republican leadership, including saying that he would support the party's House budget proposal. Conservative lawmakers have described their relationship with the governor as respectful, if not warm. But Chris Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, N.C., said the 'honeymoon seems to have come to an end.' Perhaps the bigger concern for Mr. Stein and other Democratic leaders lies within their own party, which was unable to prevent defectors from voting with Republicans on some bills. 'Breaking the supermajority is only helpful if the minority can keep their caucus united,' Dr. Cooper said. Among the bills that became law over the governor's veto were a measure allowing employees at private schools to carry concealed weapons, letting parents pull their children out of lessons they think violate their religious beliefs, and a broad energy bill eliminating efforts to combat climate change. Another new law includes measures related to gender and identity in medical malpractice lawsuits and education that opponents say discriminate against transgender people. The remaining bills that Republicans could attempt to override on Wednesday might prove more challenging. Besides concealed carry, those measure include an immigration bill that no Democrat supported in the House earlier this year, which would require more cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration agents. Three bills other bills vetoed by the governor would ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs and policies in public schools, universities and state agencies.
Washington Post
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Some North Carolina Democratic lawmakers break from party to pass Republican priorities
RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Republican lawmakers on Tuesday overrode several vetoes by Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, getting just enough votes from Stein's own party to enact some laws while falling short on others. The votes were key tests for Republican General Assembly leaders since they narrowly lost their veto-proof majority following last fall's elections.
Politico
2 days ago
- Politics
- Politico
Roy Cooper officially launches North Carolina Senate bid
In the video, the former two-term Democratic governor focused on the middle class as he said he has 'had enough' of politicians in Washington raising the national debt, 'disrespecting' veterans and putting Medicaid and Social Security 'at risk.' Cooper's highly anticipated announcement opens the door for Democrats to try to claw some control back in the upper chamber. They've been unable to win over the battleground state since 2008, despite maintaining control of the governor's mansion with Cooper and his successor Josh Stein. Cooper played up his time serving in state politics in his announcement video, noting he 'prosecuted criminals and took on scammers, big banks and drug companies' when he served as the state's attorney general before working with Republicans to balance the state budget and expand Medicaid when he was governor. 'I never really wanted to go to Washington. I just wanted to serve the people of North Carolina, right here where I've lived all my life. But these are not ordinary times,' Cooper said. Still, he added, he believes 'our best days are ahead of us.' But Cooper will likely face a primary challenger. Former Rep. Wiley Nickel jumped into the race back in April, and he sidestepped questions last month on whether he would bow out if Cooper entered the race. Instead, he said his experience flipping districts makes him a strong candidate to win the seat back for Democrats. Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley is expected to announce his own bid for the seat in the coming days after Lara Trump, the president's daughter-in-law, announced she would not run.
