Overriding Politics
July 11, 2011 - by
This is going to be fun. North Carolina joins the states that have “veto override sessions.”
It’s uncharted territory. Nobody here has much experience with this kind of thing. We’ll learn fast.
And move fast if, as Speaker Tillis promised, the session lasts only four days.
Last I saw, Governor Perdue had vetoed 15 bills – all of which passed with varying degrees of Republican and some Democratic support.
Some of them, like the medical malpractice bill, had Democratic supporters and Republican opponents.
Complicating the math is that, unlike a constitutional amendment, an override needs only three-fifths of those present and voting – not all members.
So on certain bills certain members might take certain well-timed bathroom breaks, lowering the threshold for an override.
Then there’s the question of how much pressure Republican leaders will put on their caucus – and on potential Democratic supporters.
With, let’s say, four override votes each day, plus heated debate and hot tempers over redistricting, things should be fast, furious and fun.
Overriding Politics
July 11, 2011/
This is going to be fun. North Carolina joins the states that have “veto override sessions.”
It’s uncharted territory. Nobody here has much experience with this kind of thing. We’ll learn fast.
And move fast if, as Speaker Tillis promised, the session lasts only four days.
Last I saw, Governor Perdue had vetoed 15 bills – all of which passed with varying degrees of Republican and some Democratic support.
Some of them, like the medical malpractice bill, had Democratic supporters and Republican opponents.
Complicating the math is that, unlike a constitutional amendment, an override needs only three-fifths of those present and voting – not all members.
So on certain bills certain members might take certain well-timed bathroom breaks, lowering the threshold for an override.
Then there’s the question of how much pressure Republican leaders will put on their caucus – and on potential Democratic supporters.
With, let’s say, four override votes each day, plus heated debate and hot tempers over redistricting, things should be fast, furious and fun.