Gov. Cooper Tries to Circumvent State Constitution with Cabinet Picks | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    Raleigh, NC     North Carolina's constitution states that the governor's Cabinet picks must receive "advice and consent" of the State Senate. Governor Cooper recently tried to challenge the courts on this matter, but lost. Governor Cooper announced that all but two Cabinet secretaries had been sworn in on January 27th, even though he declared that he has not submitted any formal nominations, and no one has gone through a confirmation hearing with the Senate.

• "Governor Cooper is aiming to weaken North Carolina on every front, and he has chosen to start by diluting the integrity of our state constitution. The Cabinet confirmations by the Senate are in place to make sure Governor Cooper's picks are capable and resolute in their oath to our state. If they are, then why are they so determined to thwart the process?"

    - Dallas Woodhouse, NCGOP Executive Director

    Today Larry Hall, Cooper's appointee to be the State Secretary of Military and Veterans Affairs, refused to show up at his Senate confirmation hearing for the second time. Despite his lack of confirmation from the Senate, the North Carolina Military and Veterans Affairs website already names Hall as their secretary. Is our governor instructing his Cabinet members to bypass state law because he fears they aren't qualified? Or, does he have something else up his sleeve?

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON LARRY HALL CONFIRMATION HEARING.

    Background:

    Larry Hall is breaking a law put in place to ensure the capability of Cabinet members. "As we have said all along, the purpose of the confirmation hearings is to determine whether Gov. Cooper's cabinet secretaries are capable, qualified, without conflicts of interest, and willing to follow the laws of our state and nation. By disrespecting this process, Secretary Hall is openly defying a law that has been backed up by the courts and is plainly allowed in the constitution." ("Cooper Administration Secretary Skips Confirmation Hearing Again," PhilBerger.org, 2/22/2017)

    Governor Cooper announced that eight Cabinet secretaries have been sworn in, but also stated that he has not formally announced any Cabinet nominees. "Cooper's general counsel wrote a key senator Tuesday insisting the process still can't begin because the governor has yet to formally submit nominees' names. Cooper has announced eight Cabinet secretaries and they've all been sworn in." (Associated Press, "The Latest: Cabinet member no-show again before Senate panel," Bellingham Herald, 2/22/2017)

    NC Constitution states that the Senate must confirm Cabinet nominees. (NCGA, NC State Constitution, Presentation on Confirmation Hearing of Larry Hall, 2/22/2017)

• Contact: Emily Weeks
•     Emily.Weeks@ncgop.org