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NC’s Hurricane Helene disaster response continues to raise eyebrows. From the start, how NC has handled—or mishandled—the peril in WNC has been fodder for state residents and media alike, with a bright spotlight on a highly controversial bill.
On Dec. 11, with the veto override of a single bill (SB 382), state lawmakers signed the bill into law.
Passed with a 72–46 margin, the law allocates $252 million to those in Western North Carolina who are still in dire need of disaster funding to bounce back from Hurricane Helene—with one caveat. The money can’t be accessed until it’s appropriated by the General Assembly.
The unallocated funding isn’t the only reason the legislation was unpopular from the jump. Cries of protests and chants of “shame” echoed throughout the GA chambers from nearly 100 demonstrators—many from WNC—in part due to hidden language within the law that has little to do with hurricane relief.
Despite its benevolent name, “Act to Make Modifications to and Provide Additional Appropriations for Disaster Recovery,” the law included a rearranging of power that leans to the benefit of NC Republicans and a handful of elected positions the party lost in the general election. Many WNC residents are enraged with the focus on constraining the powers of elected state officials rather than more significant relief plans.
In short, the law enacts a series of changes unrelated to disaster relief that weakens the powers of multiple state positions, including governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and superintendent of public instruction, all notably set to be held by Democrats this year.
Also a significant power shift, the authority to appoint the State Board of Elections members was shifted from the governor to the new state auditor—who is a Republican.
“This bill is a power grab, not hurricane relief. It is despicable for the Republicans in the General Assembly to use folks’ incredible need for aid to cloak their political pettiness.” -Gov. Josh Stein
State Republicans defended their position on the law, stating SB 382 brings “critical hurricane relief to families and communities that have been failed from day one by President Biden and his FEMA” and upholds the shifts of power as constitutional. Meanwhile, state Democrats admonished the law as a brazen power grab that doesn’t benefit WNC to its full capabilities.
“The people of Western North Carolina are desperate for help from their state government,” said Gov. Josh Stein in an early-December statement. “Yet, this bill is a power grab, not hurricane relief. It is despicable for the Republicans in the General Assembly to use folks’ incredible need for aid to cloak their political pettiness.”
The override of the governor’s veto wasn’t a guarantee—when the bill was initially introduced, three Republicans, all representing WNC, voted against it. At the time, Rep. Mark Pless of Haywood County stated the bill didn’t do enough for the area.
In the end, all three members flipped their votes. That party unity gave the lame-duck General Assembly the ability to override the veto in its final days, holding the exact number of seats necessary to do so. Suffice it to say, the law won’t just affect WNC—but the entire state.
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