Raleigh News & Observer: NC Legislature voting on leftovers, leaving veto overrides for later
The legislature returns for a special session Thursday, August 3, and their main concern should be redrawing unconstitutional racially gerrymandered legislative districts. But they aren’t even planning to address the recent ruling that they have one month left to redraw these districts. Instead, their plan is to focus on overriding Gov. Cooper’s vetoes. We need fair maps now. These legislators must focus on redrawing fair legislative maps immediately and we must demand the unconstitutional legislature passes no new voting laws, judicial maps or partisan court packs.
Legislators are returning to work on Thursday facing a court order demanding they draw new legislative districts and a plate full of Gov. Roy Cooper’s vetoes to consider overriding.
But the session this week may be limited to voting on bills left in limbo when the legislature adjourned in June, said Rep. David Lewis, a Harnett County Republican and House Rules chairman.
Legislators are still thinking about how to respond to the federal court’s Sept. 1 deadline for correcting what it ruled to be unconstitutional racial gerrymanders by redrawing legislative districts. A spokeswoman for Senate leader Phil Berger said the lawyers for legislative leaders are reviewing the court ruling.
Lewis said Tuesday afternoon that he did not expect legislators to talk about redistricting Thursday.
