Last-minute power shift proposal shakes North Carolina political landscape

In a quick-paced move last tuesday night North Carolina GOP lawmakers pushed forward a wide-ranging bill that would re-arrange state power structure. The 131-page law package (which showed up just hours before the house debate) targets newly-elected democratic officials positions

The proposed changes would limit authority of Josh Stein the incoming governor‚ Jeff Jackson as attorney general and Mo Green the future schools superintendent — all of whom won their spots about two weeks ago. The bill also suggests moving election board control to the GOP-aligned state auditor: a move that raised eye-brows among political watch-dogs

The house already passed the bill with most republicans saying yes and democrats saying no; the state senate will look at it next. Besides power-sharing changes the package includes extra money for hurricane helene clean-up which some see as a way to make the bill more appealing

The timing of this big law package — during whatʼs known as a lame-duck period when old lawmakers still hold seats — has created quite a stir in NC politics. The quick roll-out and limited time for public review made some state-house watchers wonder about the rush to push these changes thru