Republicans send bill to governor to reduce powers of incoming Democrats, address Helene

GOP lawmakers on Wednesday approved a 131-page bill that sets aside $227 million for additional Hurricane Helene relief and substantially reduces the power of a number of incoming state leaders.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper discusses Hurricane Helene recovery efforts during an Oct. 15, 2024, news conference in Raleigh.

The North Carolina Senate on Wednesday voted 30-19 to send a bill to the Governor’s Office that shuffles around $227 million toward Hurricane Helene relief, but doesn’t spend it.

While Senate Bill 382 is branded as a third wave of relief for the people of western North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene, the vast majority of it has nothing to do with the hurricane recovery. Rather, it aims to reduce powers of incoming Democratic state leaders.

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper is out of state, leaving Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in charge as acting governor. Robinson had considered signing the bill with Cooper out of state, but later backed off that idea.

If Robinson doesn’t act on the bill and Cooper vetoes it, lawmakers could override the veto to allow the bill to become law as early as Dec. 2.