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North Carolina, that is.
Conservative lawmakers flexing r
supermajority power this week,
shooting down Governor Cooper's
veto of the 12 week abortion ba.
Legislators voted to override
that veto on Tuesday,
just two days after Cooper signed it.
Now that bill banning most
abortions after 12 weeks and tht
ban will become law on July 1st.
To talk more about this,
we want to bring in Meet the
Press moderator Chuck Todd.
Appreciate you joining us
on this Friday here, Chuck.
First we want to ask you for some more
perspective on Super Majority legislatures.
How often do we see this much
power on one side of the aisle
So you see it when there is some
especially if you have the sort.
A Democratic governor in a in a
state that that either has a a
strong Republican legislature.
Kentucky has this.
There's a Democratic governor.
There's a supermajority legisla.
Kansas is close.
They don't quite have a supermajority.
There's a Democratic governor.
Louisiana similar situation.
It was in the reverse in Maryla.
You had a Republican governor aa
Democratic legislature was supermajority
who would regularly overturn you know
override some vetoes of Hogan's.
Gun issues would one of those
issues that would that would
happen frequently in Maryland.
So this is a situation that does
come up and it's it's semicommo.
You know these supermajority legislatures,
you know they they they could be both
helpful to a party when they're trying
to do something big in a moment.
But you know sometimes governor,
if you share the same party
as a supermajority,
you end up with legislation that maybe
you don't want that goes too fad
and turns you off from swing vo.
And then if you're dealing witha
supermajority and you're of the other party,
it gets in the way of getting things done.
And I think you know something,
this abortion bill would be perhaps an
example of that for some on the left.
So look,
supermajorities,
I think in legislatures are not
good for longterm politics becae
most durable political solutions
are when they're bipartisan and
they're closer to the center.
That's
why I was going to ask you,
alluding to the next topic here,
what should we expect?
In 2024, I know things may shape
differently here in North Carol,
but what should voters know?
There are some big topics, obviously,
that are going to be talked abot
in the presidential election,
which could trickle down
here to North Carolina.
I know it's not a swing state,
but it is an important state.
Look, I I think North Carolina,
I think we're going to find out is the is
this abortion debate enough to push North
Carolina further into the battleground,
right. It's it's a look,
it's a competitive state, right?
There's a reason there's a Democratic
governor, there's a Republic,
and it's not unusual to have a split.
Decision that way this century, right?
We've had it quite a few times.
So this is not unique.
And it for North Carolina,
but there's always been a little bit of a,
I've always said a lower ceiling
for Democrats on statewide
races than for Republicans.
But this abortion bill and
this abortion conversation,
especially if there's a more
conservative nominee for govern.
I think the Lieutenant governors
a bit more polarizing.
And if he's the Republican
nominee for governor,
I do think the cultural issues d
abortion will be front and cent.
And I'll tell you,
North Carolina is not nearly
as Republican as Kansas.
And Kansas pushed back on a on a on a
ballot referendum that would have would
have targeted abortion rights and it was,
you know,
nearly a a 606535 defeat there,.
I think it's possible that North
Carolina politics in 2024 is
dominated by 1 issue abortion ad
that it really becomes puts the
Republicans on the defensive.
Interesting stuff to watch here.
Coming up on Meet the Press on Sunday,
you're going to be talking
to Governor Roy Cooper.
What questions do you intend
to to try and ask him Not to
show your hand here though?
Well, no, I mean, it's sort of like okay.
What now is there any is is you know was
there any room to maneuver here Is it
worth trying to go back and and at them #1.
And I'm very curious of what
happened with the party Switche,
you know, he's the leader of the
Democratic Party in North Carol.
At the end of the day.
How'd you lose her?
What happened here Did you
not see this coming?
So I do think, you know that's something.
And I'm curious of, you know,
again, as you said,
I don't want to show my hand but you know.
This happened because they they,
they they had a party Switcher.
Well, he's the head of the part.
What happened?
Great
questions. All right, Chuck,
we appreciate your time here on this Friday.
We'll be looking out for more this weekend.
All right, We appreciate it.
And of course, for more with hi,
you can see this interview with
Governor Cooper this weekend.
Be sure to tune in to
Meet the Press on Sunday.
It starts at 10:00 AM right
here on WCNC Charlotte.