Sore losers in the state of North Carolina are attempting to undermine the power of the incoming Democratic Governor Roy Cooper in an insidious plot.
Though Cooper may have won the governorship, North Carolina’s state Legislature is still dominated by Republicans, most of whom would like to limit Cooper’s powers for the next few years.
Fortunately, Cooper is not willing to take the power grab sitting down and has threatened to sue the state Legislature over their recent activity.
From Politico:
“If I believe these measures are unconstitutional, they will see me in court and they don’t have a good track record there,” Cooper, currently the state attorney general, said at a news conference. Cooper said the Legislature was pushing to pass major changes to the state’s laws “in the dark of night with little debate.”
The changes Republicans are rushing through the legislature include an effort to reduce the number of state employees Cooper can hire and fire and fire from 1,500 to a mere 300.
They would also like to strip the governor of the power to appoint trustees to the University of North Carolina and give it to the General Assembly, and require Senate confirmation for Cabinet appointments. Additionally, they want to hand the power of a state office from the governor to the lieutenant governor – a Republican.
Though we are used to seeing the Republicans playing dirty, it is sad for even the worst of the GOP to be so transparent in their efforts.
Cooper compared the secret moves by the North Carolina GOP to the infamous Bathroom Bill that was pushed through the legislature in a major betrayal of the state’s residents.
“We don’t want another disaster like House Bill 2. This is exactly why we had problems with House Bill 2, because they wanted to do it in secret. They’re major changes in North Carolina law. They deserve debate. They deserve deliberation.”
Acts like these will only increase under a President Trump as Republicans become more emboldened to act in a non-traditional and immoral way to try and extend their power.
Whatever happens, it is clear that Cooper has a steep uphill battle these next several years – but he is not going to take the abuse without protest.
