New NC Gov: GOP Attempts to Limit Power Are 'Ominous'

Lawmakers are trying to curb Roy Cooper's power before he takes office
By Michael Harthorne,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 15, 2016 5:27 PM CST
Gov-Elect on NC Republicans: 'They Will See Me in Court'
North Carolina's Governor-elect Roy Cooper holds a press conference to criticize efforts by Republicans to cut the power of the governor's office during the special session of the General Assembly that is going on a few blocks away on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, in Raleigh, N.C.   (Chris Seward/The News & Observer via AP)

Incoming Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper is threatening legal action a day after North Carolina Republicans called a secret special session to limit his future powers, the News and Observer reports. “Most people might think this is a partisan power grab, but it is really more ominous,” the Huffington Post quotes Cooper as saying. “It’s really about hurting public education, working families, state employees, health care, and clean air and water.” Republicans in the General Assembly introduced two bills Wednesday. They focused on limiting the governor's power to appoint cabinet members and education board members. Outgoing Republican Gov. Pat McCrory could sign the new bills into law before he leaves office, the New York Times reports.

Cooper says the result of Republicans' "partisan, political games" could be the defunding of public education, tax hikes on the middle class, and the end of Medicaid expansion. He says the state attorney general is looking at all bills being put forward during the special session to see if they're constitutional. If not: “They will see me in court. And they don’t have a very good track record there.” In the end, Cooper has one piece of advice for lawmakers, who aren't supposed to be meeting until next month: "Go home." (More North Carolina stories.)

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