After attending the Governors’ Conference in Washington D.C. last week, Governor Perdue returned to NC and on Saturday March 5, 2011 she vetoed the Health Care bill recently passed by the NC General Assembly.  The bill addresses Obamacare law that requires citizens to purchase health insurance, indicating that North Carolinians should not be forced through penalties to buy health insurance coverage.  The bill also states that NC should join with other states in law suits challenging the constitutionality of Obamacare.  Governor Perdue had recently told the Charlotte Observer that she would not veto the bill, but that she did not intend to sign it either, saying, “it’s not worth the battle.” (Carolina Journal Online)

As part of her reasoning for the veto, Governor Perdue said, “A state can’t pass a law that is out of obeyance with federal laws, and this House Bill 2 clearly is,” and that the NC legislation is “ill-conceived” and “not good for the people of North Carolina.”  Attorney General Roy Cooper opined that “he shouldn’t defend the state law in court, as the bill would require, because it can’t be enforced.” General Assembly lawyers disagree and are challenging the Attorney General’s opinion.  (Charlotte Observer)

The General Assembly has less than two weeks to override the governor’s veto.  The number of votes needed to override the bill is three-fifths of the members voting.  This means that four Democrat votes are needed in the House, if all Republicans vote to override the veto.  In the Senate all Republicans must vote to override the veto.

Women in Numbers (WIN) is crucial now!  Two judges have ruled that Obamacare is unconstitutional.  Don’t let the best health care in the world be destroyed.  Please contact our Representatives and Senators and ask them to vote to override the governor’s veto.  Contact them by telephone, email, or mail.  Contact information follows herein.

2011-2012 Session

(Room/Phone Assignments Subject To Change)

Senate
North Carolina General Assembly
Raleigh, NC 27601-2808

North Carolina General Assembly * Legislative Building * 16 West Jones Street * Raleigh, NC 27601 * 919-733-7928

ncga.state.nc.us: NCFRW Legislative Report dated Feb 23, 2011 and Jan 27, 2011;carolinajournal.com,”Showdown between General Assembly, Perdue over budgeting cutting possible,” by Sara Burrows, Feb 21, 2011; Charlotteobserver.com, “NC gov vetoes challenge to federal health overhaul,” by Gary D. Robertson, Mar 5, 2011; NC Senate Republican Caucus, “Perdue does Obama’s bidding: vetoes Health Care Freedom Act,” Mar 5, 2011; and Conversation with Rep John Blust, Guilford County, Mar 5, 2011.