What's going on in North Carolina's legislature?
North Carolina is making national and international headlines for a surprise special called session in its General Assembly. What exactly is going on?
Surprise second special session
North Carolina politicians were already meeting in Raleigh for a special called session on recent disasters in the state (Hurricane Matthew, flooding and wildfires). Soon after that special session wrapped up on Wednesday at noon, Republicans announced a surprise second special session for 2 p.m. that day to discuss "any matters critical to the state."
The session concluded late Friday afternoon and lawmakers are headed back home.
Democratic-elect Governor vs Republican super majority
Governor-elect Roy Cooper narrowly defeated Republican Pat McCrory by some 10,000 votes in a hotly contested race. Republicans hold a super-majority in the North Carolina General Assembly and Democrats are accusing Republicans of a "coup" in an attempt to limit the new Democratic governor's power. On Wednesday one leading Republican said his party was "reasserting its constitutional authority."
"I think to be candid with you, that you will see the General Assembly look to reassert its constitutional authority in areas that may have been previously delegated to the executive branch," Rep. David Lewis (R-Cumberland) told reporters.
Cooper has condemned the moves.
Watch Cooper's full news conference
"Most people might think this is a partisan power grab, but it is really more ominous," said Cooper. It's really about hurting public education, working families, state employees, health care, and clean air and water."
Cooper added that he will file lawsuits against any legislation he feels is unconstitutional.
McCrory has not weighed in on the proceedings.
What bills have been passed?
Several bills have been filed but two in particular drew ire from Democrats-- House Bill 17 and Senate Bill 4.
House Bill 17
House Bill 17 sharply reduces the number of governor appointees to state government. It requires all of the governor's top agency heads to be approved by the Senate and it strips the governor of his power to appoint trustees to the boards of UNC System schools.
Senate Bill 4
Senate Bill 4 has been signed into law by Governor McCrory. The bill dramatically reshapes the governor's power in election oversight. Previously, the governor appoints a majority of state election board officials on the five-person panel. SB4 expands the board to eight members. The governor appoints four, Republicans select the other four. Republicans call it bipartisan good governance. Democrats called it a power grab.
Republican response
Republicans flexing their muscle against Cooper have recalled past sessions of the General Assembly, when it was dominated by Democrats. Democrats stripped the powers of the first and only GOP lieutenant governor of the 20th Century in the late 1980s. But Democrats said there's been no such widespread effort to limit the power of an incoming executive before he took office.
"People can fuss about the process but let's be honest. These people would just be as unhappy if we passed it a month from now. They don't like what's being done but they were okay with it when the Democrats did it. There's hypocrisy here," offered N.C. GOP Executive Director Dallas Woodhouse.
Protesters
Several times the viewing galleries at both the House and Senate have been ordered cleared at the General Assembly due to interruptions by protesters and dozens have been arrested. Seventeen protesters were arrested on Thursday and 39 were arrested on Friday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
