Democrats Uphold Cooper Veto of Gyms/Bars Reopening Bill, Guaranteeing More Business Failures

RALEIGH – The legislature recently passed a bill to allow fitness centers and bars to reopen under certain conditions, which remained under forced closure by way of Governor Cooper’s mandate. The governor, of course, vetoed the bill. Subsequently, the General Assembly attempted to override that veto; an effort that failed on account of Democrats backing up their governor in sentencing hundreds of business owners to financial ruin.

From North State Journal:

“[…] Republicans in charge of the House were unsuccessful persuading enough Democratic colleagues to override the governor’s veto from last week. The bill would have allowed the fitness centers and bars shuttered since March to reopen at 50% capacity, with social distancing and cleaning mandates. Bars would have been allowed to serve only outdoors. It also would have expanded current outdoor seating for restaurants already partially reopened for sit-down service.

The override failure came on the same day Cooper claimed that rising virus-related case and hospitalization numbers warranted that the governor extend the bar and gym closures already in place until at least July 17. […]”

Alas, hundreds of small-business owners will now likely be faced with the fateful decision of cutting their loses and giving up the business they fought so hard to establish. All because of the unilateral whims of one man.

Thursday it was announced by Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest that he would be suing the Cooper administration over the executive orders he’s issued, because he repeatedly failed to gain concurrence from, or even inform, the Council of State, as require by law.

This isn’t likely to squelch Cooper, however, as he reflexively digs in and ignores the substantive issues raised by critics to paint the whole lot of it as mere partisan opposition.

From now until July 17, then, there will be some more home gyms set up, more bankruptcy papers filed, and, with any luck, a network of local Speakeasies in full operation.