NC Senate Republicans Punt Budget Veto Override Until Tuesday, Later

RALEIGH – Well, it turns out that no Democrats in the N.C. Senate saw it fit to help finally end this absurd budget impasse. Instead of helping override the purely political veto by Governor Roy Cooper, the Democrats remained unified in defense of political posturing.

Republicans needed at least one Democrat to flip, or at least two Democrats to not show up for the vote in order to override the budget veto with a three-fifths majority. So, without sufficient numbers the vote was pushed until Tuesday, or possibly later.

UPDATE: With all @NCSenateDems present (& united in opposition – for now), @MyNCSenate punts on veto override vote & puts it on tomorrow (Tuesday)’s calendar. Teacher raises, among other issues, remain unsettled for another day. @ABC11_WTVD @NCDemParty @NCGOP #ncpol #ncga pic.twitter.com/spvG5Bf90P

— Jonah Kaplan (@KaplanABC11) October 28, 2019

Senate leader Phil Berger said the opportunity just wasn’t there, and thus the waiting game starts again. While the House overrode the budget veto last month, catching Democrats flat-footed, the likelihood that Democrats in the senate get caught sleeping is slim. They can’t stand another embarrassing loss, and Governor Roy Cooper has reportedly threatened Democrats with primary opponents if they don’t stay vigilant.

With that in mind, Republican’s only shot seems to be the art of persuasion. Of the 21 Democrats in the N.C. Senate, certainly there is one that has not gone completely over the cliff with the rest of the Democratic Party.

But we won’t hold our breath…Stay tuned.