RALEIGH, N.C. — The
General Assembly will be back on Sept. 3.
Gov. Pat McCrory has called
to legislature back to examine two bills he vetoed earlier this month.
“The veto should be used for
two reasons,” McCrory said in a news release. “The first is to stop legislation
about which I have strong reservations of being in the best interest of North
Carolina. The second is to ensure the public is made aware of legislation that
is not fully scrutinized. These bills meet both criteria.”
House Bill 392 would require drug testing of applicants for certain
welfare programs, something McCrory has said is unfair and could
open the state up to legal challenges.
House Bill 786 would exempt certain foreign workers from undergoing E-verify
background checks for up to nine months, something the governor said
would create loopholes for those here illegally.
Both bills passed with more
than the three-fifths majorities needed to override a gubernatorial veto.
When a governor issues a veto,
the state constitution requires him to recall the legislature so they may have
a chance to override and pass the law not withstanding his objections.
"I'll tell you what I
told the governor's office," House Majority Whip Mike Hager said. "We
have the ability to override both vetoes if we choose to, and I think we are
going to choose to."
As whip, Hager,
R-Rutherford, is responsible for assessing how members will vote in
high-profile situations. He called both measures "good bills."
Sen. Jerry Tillman,
R-Randolph, the Senate Majority Whip, said he did not have a formal vote count,
but believed his chamber would also vote to override McCrory’s vetoes.
"The people that I have
talked to are pretty firm on overriding, Tillman said.
The veto override sessions
will begin at noon, although it's unclear what the exact timing for votes will
be.
No comments:
Post a Comment