Republican legislators in North Carolina pulled a fast one on the Democrats. After assuring them that no votes were scheduled, the Republicans took advantage of the Democrats’ absence to override Governor Roy Cooper’s veto of the Republican budget.
https://apple.news/ARwmvDp7KQ1O0PQfx-alHAA
NBC reported:
“North Carolina House Democrats are calling foul on their Republican colleagues for voting to override the governor’s budget veto on Wednesday while most Democrats were not present.
“The uproar began after GOP Rep. Jason Saine made a motion early Wednesday morning to reconsider the budget that was vetoed by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper earlier this year, according to The Raleigh News & Observer.
“Democrats excoriated Republicans on social media and the few who were present in the House at the time of the vote furiously protested the decision. Only 12 Democrats were in the House, but they did not all have an opportunity to vote and their microphones were cut off, the paper reported. The vote passed 55-9. The issue now moves to the state’s GOP-controlled Senate.
“How dare you do this, Mr. Speaker!” said Democratic Rep. Deb Butler, who was surrounded by fellow Democrats on the House floor as she shouted in protest at the decision, according to a video posted online by a Democratic colleague. “If this is the way you think democracy works, shame on you. This is not appropriate and you know it. The people of North Carolina, you will answer to the people of North Carolina.”
“House Democratic leader Darren Jackson told the paper that he informed Democrats that they did not need to be present because Republican Rep. David Lewis said there would be no recorded votes. The North Carolina House is a 120-member body and Republicans hold a 65–55 majority. However, last year Democrats won enough seats in the House to end the GOP’s supermajority, which had allowed them to override a veto.”
Governor Cooper was attending a 9/11 memorial service when the Republicans trucked him and their Democratic colleagues.
Note from an activist in N.C.:
“The NC House voted this morning to override Governor Cooper’s veto of the republican budget. Cooper wanted to expand medicaid and also increase school funding, teacher salaries. The ‘News and Observer’ noted in an editorial today that NC ranked 37th in the nation when Republicans won control of the General Assembly in 2011. Today, the same editorial noted that our state now ranks 48th overall in per pupil spending.
“The Senate still also needs to vote but it’s probably going to happen (Cooper’s veto will be overridden). Republicans only need one vote in the NC Senate and they’ll bribe somebody. They tried all summer to get 5 votes in the house but failed so they used 9/11, of all days, to ramrod through their agenda.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
There is little to no honor in the Republican Party but this isn’t new. They have been using dirty tricks for some time now.
I think the Democrats must follow this rule:
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
But, I will not hold my breath. It seems too many Democrats are easy to fool, and fool, and fool, and fool …
These are really SICK people who need to be in the psych ward of a hospital.
When will Dems learn to play hardball? Stupid to trust Republicans.
I hope the people of North Carolina will vote out the lying, unethical thugs in the legislature. We should support candidates that believe in democracy and and abide by its principles.
If I lived in NC, I would be registering new Dems every day after work. Constructive fury.
If I were the Governor, I would have the relevant state agency deliver dump trucks of stinkiest manure to the entrances of the State Legislature. Of course it would only remain there till I approve of a better place to store it. Perhaps a better place would be in front of the homes of Republican Legislators.
GOP = Greedy Old Prevaricators
OMG! OnLawrence O’Donnel’s show I saw Deb Butler as she assailed them , captured on a phone, and later heard her tell the story. I was applauding her! You have to see it!
Didn’t NC have some rigged election yesterday? You know, where the really GOOD Dem lost by 2%?
Bet you any money that the “2%” is a bunch of ballots that were thrown away, registered voters (esp. minorities) given provisional ballots, being told they weren’t registered, mail-in ballots “conveniently” “lost” in the mail, etc.
Just saw the film Rigged, narrated by Jeffrey Wright, about voter suppression, election fraud & so-called “voter” fraud (which is rare to the point that it hardly exists).
Guess where lots of this was filmed? N.C. & Texas. It’s a MUST-SEE documentary.
Certainly, some activist group (such as the nationwide Indivisible; even the League of Women Voters screened it) near you is showing it–go see it!
Perhaps his is what it takes to awaken the sleeping bear of the NC electorate. [former NJans, NYers, et al Northeasterners who retired to that swamp-hole because it was “cheap,” are you paying attention?]
Yes we are – it’s a whole different ball game down here, not the same playing field and constitutional makeup as you-all up there. Much harder to fight injustice, too much centralized control. Citizens can’t bring referenda onto the ballot, and much more. Stay cozy by the fire and lob verbal bombs at beleaguered people about things you don’t know and can’t be bothered to ask or google about. There ARE NO SLEEPING BEARS down here. Instead of snide comments about our attention span while we slug away at evil with every tool we have, how ’bout you send us some help, some donations, do some fundraising among friends? The Debra Butlers of this state would appreciate it. God knows the more we lose here, the more YOU will lose as we help flip the whole federal administration red and fascist for the next who knows how many decades.
NC is the test bed for every dirty theft of liberty the forces of evil in America hope to roll out across the nation. Coming soon to YOUR precinct. Get a coffee and get busy yourself, rest assured we all are down here, thank you.
It’s great to hear from one of the wide-awake NC Democrat bears who elected the admirable Ms Butler & kudos to you for active politicking! Not many extra bucks lying around the fireplace up here, but I’ve been known to support out-of-state Dem campaigns– proud to have done so for Elizabeth Warren’s Senate run.
Sorry for the snide tone, it’s really just disappointment. It’s a beautiful state where I used to vacation long ago, & I was so impressed with great strides made in K-12 & higher ed there, & so dashed when it all turned around. Keep up the good fight, DB!
& let’s NEVER forget the failed (thank G-d!) Koch bros. attempts to resegregate Wake County, N.C. by buying the school board.
Oh–& what’s also great about the doc Rigged? The great Rev. Wm. Barber is in it…a lot. May he continue to fight on!