Lawmakers Respond to Governor’s Veto of Emergency Powers Accountability Act | Eastern North Carolina Now

With his state of emergency declaration now surpassing 600 days, Governor Cooper vetoed House Bill 264, the Emergency Powers Accountability Act, which seeks to strengthen and clarify current emergency management laws to restore checks and balances over the governor’s executive powers.

ENCNow
    Raleigh, NC - Today, with his state of emergency declaration now surpassing 600 days, Governor Cooper vetoed House Bill 264, the Emergency Powers Accountability Act, which seeks to strengthen and clarify current emergency management laws to restore checks and balances over the governor's executive powers during an extended emergency.

    "By vetoing this legislation, the governor is putting power and politics over our constitution and what is good for our state," said Rep. Keith Kidwell (R-Beaufort), who the primary sponsor of House Bill 264. "The governor's veto undermines our constitution, the balance of powers and the rule of law. It also further shows the dangers of when power is centralized in the hands of one person."

    Specifically, the legislation would require the governor to get concurrence from the Council of State, which consists of a bipartisan group of ten statewide elected executive offices established by the state constitution, for an emergency declaration lasting more than seven days - and legislative approval for it to extend beyond 45 days.

    "The governor's decision to veto this bill is purely about maintaining power and authority over the citizens and their elected representatives," said House Majority Leader John Bell (R-Wayne), who is also a sponsor of the legislation. "It does not matter who is governor of North Carolina. Republican or Democrat. The governor was never intended to have such absolute authority, especially for an unlimited time."

    Governor Cooper has also still not responded to a June 8, 2021, letter from Representatives Bell and Kidwell requesting specific details on what "metrics and data" would need to be met for his continued state of emergency to come to an end. As neighboring governors from both parties have ended their emergency orders, lawmakers want Governor Cooper to be more transparent with the public.

    Contact: Jimmy Milstead
    Email: Jimmy.Milstead@ncleg.net
Go Back


Leave a Guest Comment

Your Name or Alias
Your Email Address ( your email address will not be published )
Enter Your Comment ( text only please )




10 Tips for North Carolina Voters on Municipal Election Day Op-Ed & Politics, Bloodless Warfare: Politics Top U.S. General Warns About China’s Military Progress, U.S. Problems: ‘We Have To Do Something’


HbAD0

Latest Bloodless Warfare: Politics

President Donald J. Trump slammed failed Governor Roy Cooper's soft-on-crime agenda that led to the tragic murder of Ukrainian refugee, Iryna Zarutska, by a career criminal in North Carolina.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Soft-on-crime Democrat Roy Cooper stayed silent this weekend after police released the footage of a repeat offender brutally murdering an innocent passenger on the Charlotte Light Rail.
Today Governor Josh Stein signed Executive Order 23, establishing the North Carolina Energy Policy Task Force to strengthen the state’s electricity infrastructure and energy affordability as demand increases.
I am honored to announce my candidacy for City Council.
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management announced nearly $6 million in Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP) grants, with nearly $1.2 million of that going to support communities in District 3.
National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman Tim Scott released the following statement commenting on President Trump's "complete and total endorsement" of Michael Whatley for the North Carolina U.S. Senate race in a Truth Social post earlier this evening:
(RALEIGH) Today, Governor Josh Stein announced that the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources has awarded more than $2.6 million to trail development and restoration projects in eastern North Carolina.

HbAD1

Gary Carlton moved out of his school district, apparently on June 13.
(RALEIGH) Today Governor Stein signed seven bills and vetoed three bills.
(RALEIGH) Governor Josh Stein announced today that TMG & Haartz Solutions LLC, a new joint venture to supply synthetic leather materials for automotive interiors, will create 125 jobs over the next five years in Rutherford County.
We must vet, and elect those who will actually represent the people or we will be stuck with the same mess we have now.
On the heels of the largest jobs commitment in North Carolina’s history, Governor Josh Stein, Department of Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley, and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina traveled to Paris to advocate for North Carolina with business leaders at the 55th Paris Air Show.
Snowden: last night at Southside the announcement was made that the vote on closing Snowden will be at the school board regular meeting on Tuesday June 3 at 5:30 PM.
“Accurate voter registration rolls are critical to ensure that elections in North Carolina are conducted fairly, accurately, and without fraud.”

HbAD2

School announced yesterday that the so called forums at Chocowinity Middle School tonight (April 29,2025) and S.W. Snowden (Thursday May 1, 2025) have been cancelled pending the managers proposed budget.
This Thursday April 17 at 6:00 PM at King Chicken Restaurant.
The political schedule has suddenly become complicated. This is because the Republican party is deliberately scheduling events to conflict with our schedule.
The Conservative Club meets Wednesday February 26 at 6:00 pm at King Chicken Restaurant.
Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the NC State Board of Elections, recently was elected incoming president of the National Association of State Election Directors (NASED), putting her in line to serve as association president in 2026.
Rep. Keith Kidwell sends; As Americans we should be proud to display our flag. I offer my support to keep the flag flying at Camping World in Greenville, NC.
The State Board of Elections will hold a meeting at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, in the Board Room of the Third Floor of the Dobbs Building, 430 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27603.

HbAD3

 
Back to Top