(The Center Square) – Energy legislation believed to save between $12 billion and $15 billion, proposed powers of the state auditor and changes for charter schools were all vetoed by first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein on Wednesday.
His actions drew rebukes from Republican colleagues, as well as vows for override votes. Respectively in the three, Stein sided with Democrats’ long-time play toward green energy, keeping the reins on investigative work by another Council of State member, and no loss of authority by the State Board of Education.
The Power Bill Reduction Act, known also as Senate Bill 266, authored by Sens. Timothy Moffitt of Henderson County, Danny Britt of Robeson County and Warren Daniel of Burke County, would “eliminate the interim date for carbon reduction by certain electric public utilities.” The 2021 law called for 70% reduction of emissions by 2030 and net-zero by 2050. The proposal makes it 70% by 2050.
“Recent independent analysis of Senate Bill 266 shows that this bill could cost North Carolina ratepayers up to $23 billion through 2050 due to higher fuel costs,” Stein said.
Advocates say deadlines that crush flexibility to use natural gas, nuclear and emerging technologies as well as renewables would be changed if the bill becomes law. Projections say savings could escalate to $15 billion. House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, said it was $12 billion and affirmed a veto override will come.
Clarify Powers of State Auditor, known also as House Bill 549, would expand investigative work by the auditor and his staff in publicly funded entities. Publicly funded entities is an enhanced definition allowing probes into organizations that receive, disburse or handle federal and state funds. In similarity to second-term Republican President Donald Trump’s creation of the Department of Government Efficiency, the state auditor would be able to audit for government efficiency, risk assessment, fraud detection, audit planning and evidence gathering.
Publicly funded entity, through debate and amendment, evolved into “any individual, corporation, institution, association, board or other organization that receives, disburses or handles state or federal funds,” says the bill digest provided by the UNC School of Government in concert with the state legislative website.
Dave Boliek is the first-term Republican auditor. The legislation doesn’t have a sunset and would have commenced retroactive to July 1 with the start of the fiscal year.
“House Bill 549 would grant the auditor sweeping access to the data and records of any private corporation that accepts any amount of state funding,” Stein said. “Giving the auditor this intrusive power may undermine our state’s efforts to recruit businesses to North Carolina.”
Boliek said of the veto, “Our agency bill was written to protect the independence of the State Auditor’s Office. Throughout the process we were transparent, incorporating feedback from legislators and the governor’s office. Governor Stein’s veto undercuts the important principles of accountability and transparency that taxpayers expect from their government.”
Charter School Changes, known also as Senate Bill 254, changes some of the authority decisions at play between the State Board of Education and the Charter Schools Review Board. Eight Democrats in the House of Representatives, where Republicans have a 71-49 majority, were for it.
“Senate Bill 254 is an unconstitutional infringement on the authority of the State Board of Education and the superintendent of Public Instruction,” Stein said. “Additionally, it weakens accountability of charter schools when every North Carolina student deserves excellent public schools, whether traditional or charter.”
Stein put his signature on seven other bills, giving him 22 this week. Wednesday’s signings included:
• AOC Agency Requests-AB (HB620, SB648).
• Allow PTs in School Concussion Protocol (HB928).
• Emerg. Comm. Code Exempts/Sanitary Board/401 (HB768).
• Coastal Regulatory Reform (SB472).
• DPS Agency Changes.-AB (SB710).
• Various Real Estate and Business Law Changes (SB690).
• Brownfields Property Reuse Act Revisions (SB387).
And earlier this week, the former attorney general signed:
• Various Education Changes (HB959).
• State Hiring Accessibility and Modernization (SB124).
• Accounting Workforce Development Act (SB321).
• Healthcare Workforce Reforms (HB67).
• Child Care Regulatory Reforms (HB412).
• The P.A.V.E. Act (HB948).
• DOI Omnibus Bill (HB737, SB377).
• School Contracted Health Services (SB77).
• Clarify Motor Vehicle Dealer Laws (SB295, HB406).
• EMS Personnel Provisions (HB975).
• Modernize NC S.A.F.E. Act/2d Mortgage Fee Act (HB762).
• Alena’s Law & Office of Vital Records Changes (HB537).
• Various Ed Law/Tax Acct/NIL Changes (HB378).
• Amend Business Corporations Act (HB388, SB267).
• DOT Omnibus (SB391).
