February 1, 2023/Media

ICYMI: Speaker Moore’s “Shameful Power Grab” Could “Undermine Voters”

Media reports are highlighting backlash against Speaker Tim Moore’s proposed rules change in the North Carolina State House that would allow Republicans to call veto override votes with no notice, calling it a “shameful power grab” as advocates warn that the change “subverts democracy and the will of the voters.”

The change represents the type of deception and trickery that North Carolina Republicans are willing to resort to to pass their extreme and dangerous agenda.

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ABC11: Civil rights groups: Proposed NC House rules ‘shameful power grab’

  • Opponents argue the change is meant to undermine the democratic process and railroad through conservative policy, such as an abortion ban.

  • “The surprise votes rob us of our right to speak to our representatives before important votes happen, cutting us out to the law making process,” said Common Cause NC HBCU Fellow Miles Beasley.

  • “He’s resorting to cheating and ‘got ya’ tactics that would push his anti-LGBTQ agenda rather than allowing democracy to work as it’s supposed to,” said Equality North Carolina Organizing Director Eliazar Posada.

  • “What we’re seeing with these proposed House rules with the veto override vote are undermining the will of the people and we definitely ask Speaker Moore to reconsider his proposed rules…to be able to come together in bipartisan way in order to support what the people want and constituents in an honorable way,” said Planned Parenthood South Atlantic Public Affairs Director Jillian Riley.

Associated Press: Advocates warn House rule change could undermine voters

  • North Carolina civil rights advocates denounced a House rule change Tuesday that could allow Republicans to override vetoes on contentious bills with little notice, saying it subverts democracy and the will of voters.

  • Republicans pushed through temporary operating rules this month that omitted a longstanding requirement that chamber leaders give at least two days’ notice before holding an override vote.

  • House Speaker Tim Moore “didn’t get the votes he needs to override Cooper’s veto on an abortion ban during the midterm election,” Riley said. “So what now? He wants to change the rules and circumvent the Democratic process so that he can pass a draconian abortion ban in the middle of the night.”