Gov. Pat McCrory
NC Court of Appeals: Gov. Pat McCrory not immune from open records lawsuit
Gov. Pat McCrory will not be immune from an open records lawsuit in trial court, the North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday. In the opinion, Judge Linda Stevens wrote that McCrory’s attorney failed to properly plead, raise, or argue the affirmative defense of sovereign immunity. The appeal came about from a partial grant of judgment on the […]
NY Times columnist blasts McCrory’s behavior as emblematic of troubling national trend
If you get a chance, be sure to check out New York Times columnist David Leonhardt’s column from this morning comparing the post-election responses of President Obama and our own Governor Pat McCrory. One demonstrates how to handle an election defeat with class, grace and eye toward the common good, and the other — well, […]
State Board of Education talks possible lawsuit over legislative limits to their power
Calling House Bill 17 an attempt to “diminish the board’s constitutional authority,” State Board of Education Chairman Bill Cobey and the members of the state’s governing public school panel retired to close session to discuss their response with attorneys Tuesday morning. Board members indicated they would not be returning to open session to discuss the […]
Peevish, petulant and petty to the end: McCrory puts an exclamation point on four dreadful years
There was just a smidgen of hope this week in good government circles that Gov. Pat McCrory would summon up a shred of courage and class and do what’s right by vetoing House Bill 17 from last week’s kangaroo special legislative session — the measure that, among other things, decimates a good deal of gubernatorial […]
After governor signs controversial bill, State Board of Education chair condemns new law as “unconstitutional”
Minutes after Gov. Pat McCrory on Monday signed a controversial bill mandating stiff new limits on the powers of Gov.-elect Roy Cooper and the State Board of Education—a panel composed of gubernatorial appointees—state board Chairman Bill Cobey vowed his board would meet with their attorneys to consider their response. “I don’t want to pass judgment […]
Did Gov. McCrory battle court packing scheme, or was it a media myth?
In a press release late Monday Gov. Pat McCrory said he would sign N.C. House Bill 17 – the bill that strips incoming governor Roy Cooper of a number of powers and appointments McCrory enjoyed while in office. But one of the stand-out statements in the release had nothing to do with HB17. In listing […]
McCrory has still not signed one major bill from last week’s special session
For what it’s worth — and it may not be much — Gov. Pat McCrory has still not signed House Bill 17 from last week’s special session. This is the bill, you will recall, that makes a host of changes (and by changes, I mean drastic reductions) in the powers of the Governor’s office in […]
McCrory signs Senate Bill 4 in less than an hour; appoints chief of staff’s wife to Industrial Commission
Well, that was fast. Less than an hour after Senate Bill 4 made it back to the Senate after it was passed in the House, Gov. Pat McCrory signed it into law and then recommended his chief of staff’s wife as an appointment to the Industrial Commission. The outgoing governor has not responded to multiple […]
Pat McCrory’s last chance to do the right thing
As the North Carolina General Assembly hurtles forward with its stunning power play to seize numerous duties that Gov.-elect Cooper is scheduled to assume January 1, it’s increasingly clear that there’s only probably one person left who can conceivably do anything to stop it. That would be the current inhabitant of the Governor’s mansion, one […]
General Assembly moves to dramatically limit new governor’s powers
The North Carolina General Assembly’s GOP majority moved to dramatically limit the powers of the governor’s office Wednesday as Democratic Governor-Elect Roy Cooper prepares to take office next month. House Bill 17, filed late Wednesday during a special session called without warning to Democratic lawmakers, is the widest ranging example. The bill would strip the […]
Senate bill seeks to create new bipartisan Board of Elections agency, restore partisan court races, diminish power of NC Supreme Court
A bill filed by Senate Republicans on Wednesday night would take away the political advantage of having Governor-elect Roy Cooper appoint positions to the State Board of Elections by creating a new, bipartisan agency: the Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement. The Board would consist of eight members; four Republicans and four Democrats appointed by […]
Special Session Day 2: Surprises! Another Special Session
Well, the first day of the North Carolina General Assembly’s special session passed without many surprises. But day two…not so much. The General Assembly will adjourn this session after passing the final disaster relief bill (the House reconvenes at 1 p.m.) and then go into another, previously unannounced special session. N.C. House Speaker Tim Moore […]