www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – 2024-11-20 15:20:00

SUMMARY: Republicans have selected their executive branch leadership for the upcoming term. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, serving since 2010, will seek an eighth term, while 37-year-old Rep. Destin Hall will succeed Tim Moore as House Speaker. Berger and Hall represent Rockingham and Caldwell counties, respectively. The formal elections will take place in January, with Republicans holding majorities in both chambers. The leadership will work with new Governor Josh Stein, who succeeds Roy Cooper. The Council of State has a 5-5 split, with several incumbents re-elected and new officeholders, including Democrats Rachel Hunt and Jeff Jackson.

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – 2024-11-20 14:45:00

SUMMARY: North Carolina’s legislature has overridden Governor Roy Cooper’s veto of House Bill 10, securing funding to eliminate school choice waiting lists and requiring sheriffs to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The law appropriates $463 million for the Opportunity Scholarship program, expanding school choice for about 55,000 families. The law also mandates sheriffs to detain individuals suspected of being in the U.S. illegally for up to 48 hours and notify ICE. Critics argue it undermines public schools, while proponents support school choice as an investment in education. This bill’s passage marks the end of the veto override session.

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www.youtube.com – WRAL – 2024-11-20 08:27:08

SUMMARY: State lawmakers unexpectedly approved a bill that reduces the power of incoming Democratic leaders Josh Stein and Jeff Jackson, amidst criticism for its lack of public hearing. The controversial 131-page bill, presented as disaster relief, also alters voting laws, potentially affecting vote counting procedures. Democratic leaders have termed it an abuse of power, asserting it is a transparent effort by Republicans to maintain control following recent elections. Key changes include reducing the time for election workers to assess provisional ballots and shifting oversight of the state elections board from the incoming Democratic governor to a Republican auditor. Legal challenges are anticipated.

The state’s incoming Democratic governor and attorney general Jeff Jackson would lose key powers if the Republican-backed proposal becomes law.

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