By Alex Baltzegar
Carolina Journal
- If you are black or brown, Republicans really don’t want you to vote,” Cooper said.
- Berger’s press office said Cooper is “embarrassing himself and his office.”
Gov. Roy Cooper, whose approval ratings recently dipped into negative territory, vetoed bills Thursday dealing with election reforms and government appointments.
Cooper signaled his intent to veto Senate Bill 747, the election measure, in a video message.
Cooper accused Republicans of “using the advice of Trump’s handpicked election denier Cleta Mitchell.”
However, while Senate Republicans held a meeting where Mitchell was in attendance, they say they did not know she was coming or who she was.
“I had never met her,” Sen. Paul Newton, R-Cabarrus, said of Mitchell. “I did not know who she was until after the meeting. They had no influence on the bill whatsoever.”
Following the news that Mitchell was in one of the meetings, Democrats and some in the mainstream media have since run with this narrative, and Cooper is continuing it. According to lawmakers, the bill was already written and finalized before the meeting where Mitchell was in attendance.
COOPER ACCUSES REPUBLICANS OF RACISM
In the video, Cooper also says Republicans are racist, referring to S.B. 747.
“If you are black or brown, Republicans really don’t want you to vote,” Cooper said.
S.B. 747 contains no provisions concerning race. Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, responded, accusing Cooper of “mischaracterizing a bill that simply strengthens election integrity in North Carolina.”
“It’s unfortunate that he would rather score political points by crying ‘racism’ than be honest about the balanced, common-sense election reforms passed in the House and Senate,” Moore said. “I anticipate the House will swiftly override his veto.”
In the same video, Cooper also accuses North Carolina’s court system of being “stacked with partisan judges who have already turned the justice system upside down.”
The North Carolina Supreme Court is currently composed of five Republicans and two Democrats. Prior to the 2022 elections, the court was composed of four Democrats and three Republicans. Republicans won all statewide judicial races in 2022.
REPUBLICANS CALL IT A “TEMPER TANTRUM”
Senate President Pro-Tem Phil Berger’s press office replied to Cooper’s video saying that he is “embarrassing himself and his office with this blatant audition tape for the Biden-Harris administration.”
Cooper also stamped his veto Thursday on Senate Bill 512, Greater Accountability for Boards/Commissions.
“This legislation will hurt the effective and efficient use of taxpayer money by impairing the Governor’s constitutionally required duty to execute the laws passed by the legislature,” Cooper wrote in his official veto message. “The bill interrupts the critical work of boards and commissions to protect public health, provide clean air and water, recruit new jobs, lower electric bills and more. Fundamentally it violates the separation of powers enshrined in the state Constitution. The courts have consistently rejected these legislative power grabs in McCrory v. Berger and other cases. Legislative efforts to seize executive power are unconstitutional and damage vital state work.”
There has been some speculation that Cooper’s latest antics have been an effort to raise his national profile following his recent stunts to gain attention. Cooper has not been able to influence legislative policy since Republicans gained supermajorities.
“Through his partisan temper tantrums, it’s clear that Roy Cooper isn’t handling being a lame duck governor very well,” said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC.
Back in May, Cooper formally declared a state of emergency in North Carolina over an education bill that expands school choice options to parents and K-12 students.
Cooper drew criticism nationally for the stunt, including from current Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, R-SC.
Sen. Warren Daniel, R-Burke, who is a lead sponsor of S.B. 747, released a statement criticizing Cooper after the governor shared the video on social media.
“When North Carolina voters vote, democracy wins,” Daniel said. “That’s why we are creating a secure election system that makes it easy to vote and protects election integrity. But Gov. Cooper wants his handpicked partisans running our elections and he apparently feels threatened by North Carolinians observing what happens in their polling places.”
Daniel was also critical of Cooper’s characterization of North Carolina.
“North Carolina is not a third-world dictatorship, no matter how hard Gov. Cooper tries to make it one,” Daniel said. “We have an open democracy. By overriding this veto, we’ll guarantee every citizen’s right to vote with confidence in the security of our elections.”
Alex Baltzegar is the statehouse reporter for the Carolina Journal.
DON’T BELIEVE THIS GUY!!!!!!
mr cooper (not capital intentionally) needs to go somewhere and sit down. His cries of racism are getting stale, black and brown people are finally opening their eyes to the outright lies spewing from the democrat party. Hopefully they will vote for the party that will fight against the chaos happening in our country. Everybody needs to vote Republican, so we can bring sanity back to our country.
Amen. He is a poor excuse for governor. I didn’t vote him in and I sure hope we can vote him out. He is not for the people but only himself.
No surprise there. He’s shown us time after time where he stands. He is for himself and not the people. I hope the rest of you see that dark times are here and are going to be far worse because of politicians like Cooper.
Who cates? As long as we have a veto-priof majority, the governor is irrelevant.
Not really, considering the executive branch is the enforcement arm of the 3 branches of government. No enforcement means a nullified law. We saw it with Voter ID and the stand down orders from law enforcement during the riots at the Capital in 2018. Cooper will only enforce the laws he cares about and agrees with.
@Brett: These vetoes will be quickly overridden, just like thr others. Thr General Assembly will continue to move power to the legislature. There’s nothing to see here and nothing to worry about, as long as we can continue to draw the voting districts. We now have approval powers to all council of state positions and soon will have approval powers to all governor appointees. Let him veto away, I’m not worried.
Dems are the party of racism. Wanna save innocent black lives? Vote pro life
Amen!
“Racism” the default go to for democrats .
Remarkably ironic since the 2024 governor race will be between a black Conservative and a white Democrat.
No worries here though, the GA will override. Let’s keep making history in the right and moral direction, NC!
That’s the liberals “go to” word
Ahhh, the cries of racism from this doofus are about as predictable as his veto. Must have been his first word.
He makes Beverly Perdue look good.
The voters of North Carolina voted for “voter ID” back in 2018. I think it was like 60% of voters. Black, White, Hispanic,…etc. Put the “Race Card” away Mr. Cooper. People are tired of it! The card is worn out by Democrats.
Voters of North Carolina voted for “Voter ID” years ago. Stop playing the “race card” Mr. Cooper. NC voters come from all races.
Did you know his mom was a school teacher. That is why when he address people he sounds like he is speaking to 4yr olds.
He is an absolute class act. Enough with this do nothing governor already. Be gone, sir.
Roy Cooper has always been a pathetic suck up to the disgusting liberal, radical ideology that warped democraps attempt to shove down decent, God – fearing people’s throats. He and the ignorant fools who voted for him should read the bible, change their ways and live by the 10 commandments before it’s too late!
Unfortnately we have a deranged Governor. I would be ashamed if I had voted for him. Usage of ‘racism’ is becoming the new ‘wolf’. Disagreeing with the opposing political party should not sink to the depth’s of name calling. Low brow governor.