Editorial: Cooper's veto pen thwarts legislative wrecking crew

Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019 -- Preventing a train wreck may not have the same glory as building a railroad, but it is no less significant. Such may be the best way to assess Gov. Roy Cooper's performance at the end of a legislative session that seemed more to run out of steam than end. For Cooper, his achievements came most in the wreckage he stopped than any show-piece victories. But don't think it is without significance.

Posted 10:00 a.m. Nov 19, 2019 — Updated 10:00 a.m. Nov 19, 2019

CBC Editorial: Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019; Editorial #8483

The following is the opinion of Capitol Broadcasting Company.

Preventing a train wreck may not have the same glory as building a railroad, but it is no less significant.

Such may be the best way to assess Gov. Roy Cooper’s performance at the end of a legislative session that seemed more to run out of steam than end.

For Cooper, his achievements came most in the wreckage he stopped than any show-piece victories. But don’t think it is without significance.

Legislative leaders are unrelenting in their efforts to slash away at state government’s revenue base and leaving it unable to meet its fiduciary responsibility to ALL its citizens – not just corporate taxpayers.

That responsibility includes access to a quality education for EVERY child; access to basic health care for EVERY family; a clean and healthy environment for ALL residents and the opportunity for good quality of life for all citizens.

Cooper blocked further efforts to slash business taxes – this time reducing and even eliminating – the franchise tax that would have cut state revenues $1 billion over five years.

“This legislation prioritizes corporate tax cuts over investments in education and would further erode state revenue at the same time the General Assembly is underinvesting in schools,” Cooper said in his veto of the bill. “Cutting taxes for corporations at more than $1 billion over five years will hurt North Carolina’s future.”

Cooper was able to block the state Senate’s misbegotten plan for local school construction needs that wouldn’t guarantee the money needed nor provide ways to help local schools get the most building bang for their taxpayer bucks. Cooper’s offer of compromise bond financing program – a version of which was backed by the state House leadership – was met with silence. Interest rates are at historic lows; North Carolina’s credit rating is the best in the nation. This was a case where nothing was better than doing the wrong thing.

The governor has stood up for the powers of county sheriffs – even when many have been too willing to turn their authority over to legislators – by vetoing legislation requiring cooperation with federal immigration officials who wanted illegal immigrants held in jails without warrants – as required of any citizen or non-citizen.

Cooper’s judicious use of his veto authority has blocked legislation that would weaken health and environmental regulations and expanded a private school voucher program that already suffers from a lack of accountability and transparency and is ripe for abuse.

While the governor has met his constitutional responsibility and issued his vetoes within the proscribed deadline, the General Assembly isn’t subject to similar requirements.

If the past is any indication, legislative leaders will spend the next two months plotting and scheming to override Cooper’s vetoes when the legislature reconvenes in mid-January.

All this should stop. The Senate should vote on the governor’s veto and move on. Stop the games. Stop the posturing. End the obstinance.

Rather than leaving North Carolina’s critical needs unmet; rather than neglecting school kids, public health and quality of life – how about doing your job?

Come January, work out a compromise with the governor and end the uncertainty felt by state organizations and employees. Implement a program that provides for our school children, meets the construction needs of local schools, expands Medicaid to more than a half-million working North Carolinians and their families. All are widely supported by the state’s citizens.

This unnecessary delay will be remembered as voters go to the polls in November 2020.