Governor Roy Cooper vetoes the latest state Republican extremist measures
On Monday, Governor Roy Cooper vetoed four controversial Republican-backed bills following the latest legislation session. The bills in question include a proposal that would force Sheriffs to aid ICE, a bill that would rid of common sense gun safety measures, an expansion of control the Republican-led legislation has on appointing board of education trustees, and a flawed child advocacy center bill.
- Historically, Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto power has held off several controversial Republican-backed measures, including restrictions on abortions, criminalizing North Carolinians who exercise their constitutional right to peaceably assemble and censoring teachers from educating students on the truth of our history, among others.
- Despite Gov. Cooper governing with North Carolinians interest in mind, state Republicans have repeatedly attempted to strip away the governor’s veto power in order to push their extremist bills through.
- Since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Republican-led state legislations across the nation, including in North Carolina, increasingly sought laws to limit their governor’s emergency powers and expand legislative oversight.
In the latest session, Governor Roy Cooper’s power to block discriminatory and controversial measures backed by state Republicans underscores the value of checks and balances. Without this crucial check on extremist lawmakers, the rising MAGA faction inside our state will have the ability to pass dangerous, divisive and discriminatory legislation.
This next election will be crucial in preventing a Republican super-majority in the General Assembly which gives the Governor’s veto the power to keep a check on extremist lawmakers, and protect against the erasure of fundamental rights such as voting rights, reproductive freedom and civil rights.
