Summary
The North Carolina House passed a controversial bill allocating $227 million for Hurricane Helene relief while including provisions to reduce powers of the incoming Democratic governor and attorney general.
Critics, including Democrats, called it a “power grab,” citing changes like stripping the governor’s control over the State Board of Elections and limiting the attorney general’s ability to challenge state laws or advocate for utility customers.
Republicans defended the bill as necessary, but some GOP lawmakers opposed it.
The bill now heads to the Senate and may face a gubernatorial veto.
This is also a favored tactic when it’s time to hold the budget hostage with threats of a government shutdown a few times every other year too.