1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

The Governor's veto of Senate Bill 382 should be upheld. While the bill contains provisions for Hurricane Helene relief, the bulk of it strips power from incoming statewide Democratic officeholders like the Governor, Attorney General, and Superintendent of Public Instruction. These measures appear to be partisan power grabs that undermine the will of the voters in the recent election. The bill would remove the Governor's ability to appoint the State Board of Elections, likely leading to Republican control. It would also limit the Attorney General's authority to challenge state laws and the Superintendent's oversight of charter schools. These changes violate constitutional norms of separation of powers. Furthermore, the Hurricane relief funds are relatively small and cannot even be spent until the legislature reconvenes. With the state still needing billions more for recovery efforts, this bill is merely posturing under the guise of disaster aid. Upholding the veto allows for a fuller relief package enacted through proper legislative process. The people's mandate from the election should be respected by avoiding these last-minute partisan maneuvers that consolidate power for the outgoing party. For democratic principles and effective disaster response, the Governor's veto is warranted and should stand.