GOP legislators seek to take power from North Carolina's Dem governor

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BY REID WILSON - 08/26/18 10:30 AM EDT

North Carolina’s General Assembly on Monday will consider changes for two amendments that, if approved by voters in November, would dramatically shift the balance of power away from the governor and to the state legislature.

The amendments are part of a battle between the state’s Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and legislative Republicans, who hold supermajorities in both houses of the legislature.

The amendments would allow the legislature to claim more power over appointments to both open judicial seats and the state Board of Elections. At present, Cooper holds the power to appoint judges to vacant seats and to the Board of Elections.

All five living former governors of North Carolina, including Republicans Jim Martin and Pat McCrory, oppose the amendments.

“It’s not about partisan politics, it’s about power politics. And it must be stopped,” Martin said last week.

In a statement, Cooper’s spokesman Ford Porter called the proposed amendments “deceptive, unconstitutional and wrong.”

http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/403536-gop-legislators-seek-to-take-power-from-north-carolinas-dem-governor