state politics
North Carolina Democrats are furious after Republicans hold surprise budget vote with just over half of members
North Carolina House Democrats were left in a rage Wednesday after their Republican counterparts voted to override Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of the state budget. They weren't just upset with the result, however. It was how the GOP got it done that riled up the Democrats.
At the time of the vote, only 64 of the 120 members were present, including just 12 Democrats; House Democratic leader Darren Jackson said he told his caucus they didn't need to attend Wednesday morning's session because state Rep. David Lewis (R) said there would be no votes recorded during that time. The Republican House Speaker, Rep. Tim Moore, said that announcement was never made.
Rep. Deb Butler (D) criticized the Republicans for how they handled the matter following a 55-9 vote to override the veto. "How dare you Mr. Speaker?," Butler said, addressing Moore. "The trickery that is being evidenced by this morning is tantamount to a criminal offense." Butler described the Republican strategy as "scorched earth politics" and said she was threatened with arrest on the House floor.
"The fact that they would sit and lie in wait to trap these good citizens, these good representatives, is disgraceful," she said.
Jackson said he wants the Republicans to recall the veto vote before it goes to the state Senate. Read more at The News & Observer.