GOP lawmakers again seek to rein in Cooper's powers

House Bill 264 is the latest in a series of proposals backed by legislative leaders seeking to limit the emergency powers of the governor. It would require any emergency action lasting longer than a week to have the support of a majority of the 10-member Council of State, which is currently dominated by Republicans.

GOP lawmakers and critics of Cooper's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic have long chafed at his statewide emergency orders.

The legislation is similar to a bill that passed last summer, Senate Bill 105. It was promptly vetoed by Cooper, as were lawmakers' other, less expansive attempts to limit gubernatorial emergency powers.

Signaling the expected veto, neither Democrats nor Republicans even bothered to debate House Bill 264 on the House floor. It passed 65-45, with Rep. Michael Wray, D-Northampton, voting with the GOP majority in favor of the bill.

In a statement, House Speaker Tim Moore noted that North Carolina has been under a state of emergency due to the pandemic for 589 days.

"The need for checks and balances is arguably most crucial during a statewide emergency," said Moore, R-Cleveland. "No one individual should have the ability to exercise unilateral power during such an emergency."