Huh... Originally, I was going to say that if they have enough yea votes, then it doesn't really matter how many nays fail to show up, but it appears that North Carolina's procedure does need, say, a 2/3rds majority of the entire House, for example. Instead, they need "a three-fifths majority of those present and voting is necessary to override a veto. If all 120 members were present... House Republicans would need 72 votes." (new window)

This passed with 69 yeas because 5 members were absent, but would not have passed had they been in attendance. This does seem like shenanigans, but shenanigans in compliance with their idiotic constitution: "If after such reconsideration three-fifths of the members of that house present and voting shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections and veto message, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered; and if approved by three-fifths of the members of that house present and voting, it shall become a law notwithstanding the objections of the Governor." (new window).

Compare to the US Constitution: "If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law." (new window)

Theaetetus: but it appears that North Carolina's procedure does need

Should be "but it appears that North Carolina's procedure doesn't need"

GAT_00: There really is nothing, absolutely nothing, about this that isn't criminal

Except that the North Carolina state constitution explicitly authorizes it.

GAT_00: Theaetetus: GAT_00: There really is nothing, absolutely nothing, about this that isn't criminal

Except that the North Carolina state constitution explicitly authorizes it.

It says you should lie and cheat when you can't win fair?

It says that you only need a 3/5 majority of those present and voting. So, the fewer members available, the easier it is.
Interestingly, according to their constitution, they can have a regular session with a bare majority of members... so if 61 of them show up, they can have a session, and then only 37 yeas are needed to override a veto.

You gonna hold up democracy over a little car accident?

Three fifths? Where have I heard that number in relation to voting before?

The Stealth Hippopotamus: So, what are they suppose to do? Wait till the guy is out of ICU before conducting any of the state's business??

If that was the only guy missing and they held the meeting during normal working hours, that would be one thing.

As it is, they look like scumbags.

The other four Democrats were known to be away from Raleigh, one or two were at family funerals or emergencies and the others were out of the country. Just couldn't fit all that in a headline...

Pretty nasty by the state GOP, but they're all assholes. One of them, Tom Apodaca, started shouting at my dad on the phone when my dad called to complain about the budget that would have fired a large number of teachers and assistants. My dad wasn't raising his voice, but the Senator decided he needed to.

/NC state politics is slimy

The House found enough votes to follow suit, in part because five Democrats were absent due to illnesses, deaths in the family, and foreign travel.

Yeah, I'm a public official. I don't bother showing up to do my job because I'm gallivanting around the Carribean's finest beaches. Guess that Racial Justice Act got overturned, huh? Oh well. Another Rum Runner, senor!

These bills were debated extensively during session. They've had full vetting," responded House Rules chairman Tim Moore, R-Cleveland. "Whenever the will of the majority is to pass legislation without further delay, we should move forward."

"Do you think 1:05 AM is a good time for the public to participate in this debate?" asked Paul Luebke, D-Durham.

"No time is better than the present," Moore replied.

Douchy Congressman Moore is a douchy congressman

Paging Ric Romero. Republicans are doing underhanded things.

Ric?

Must have learned this move from Obama and his "recess appointments"

It would certainly be terrible if someone kidnapped and imprisoned all of the Republican state legislators in North Carolina, leaving the Democrats free to legislate at will in compliance with the state constitution.

Yep. Terrible.

Publikwerks: The Stealth Hippopotamus: So, what are they suppose to do? Wait till the guy is out of ICU before conducting any of the state's business??

If that was the only guy missing and they held the meeting during normal working hours, that would be one thing.

As it is, they look like scumbags.

Like someone else said, you can't make a midnight special legislative session into a good thing.

jayg22: Must have learned this move from Obama and his "recess appointments"

Yes, because Obama was the first president to do that, ever.

jayg22: Must have learned this move from Obama and his "recess appointments"

Comparing apples and douchebags.

BillCo: So, this is pretty much like the recent Obama appointments?

The difference is, Republicans are evil pieces-of-shiat.

You can't compare Republicans and Democrats, because they're not the same. Republicans are members of a cult of stupidity and greed, Democrats are members of a political party of pedants and wishful thinkers

But good luck in 2012, moron!

jayg22: Must have learned this move from Obama and his "recess appointments"

Yeah, Obama was a total bastard for not putting it to a standard up-and-down vote.

Oh wait...

This sounds like the plot to The Pelican Brief, sorta.

Gotta love my home state. This is what happens when pig farmers get voted into public office. Currently, our NC Legislatchoor wants to BLOW $34 million dollars on an anti-gay ammendment to the state constitution, while slashing our educational budget so that we now rank 49th out of the 50 states.

/Welcome to North Carolina.
//Please set your watches back 200 years.

This is what you get when you elect trained lawyers to office.

Holy shiat dudes, this is morning cartoon villain tactic bullshiat.

BillCo: So, this is pretty much like the recent Obama appointments?

I guess you could say it's a matter of principle, but in matters of motivation, one party (Obama) wants to help people in the face of evil assholes obstructing him whereas the other party (NC Republicans) wants to fark people in the face (and ass).... period.

But who am I kidding Bill, you were just putting on your best T face, weren't you?

Approves

Holding votes when your opponents aren't present is an ancient piece of legislative trickery. The only reason the UN got involved in Korea was because the Russian ambassador wasn't present to exercise his veto when the Security Council voted.

Summer Glau's Love Slave: our NC Legislatchoor wants to BLOW $34 million dollars on an anti-gay ammendment to the state constitution

Small government and fiscal responsibility!

Summer Glau's Love Slave: Gotta love my home state. This is what happens when pig farmers get voted into public office. Currently, our NC Legislatchoor wants to BLOW $34 million dollars on an anti-gay ammendment to the state constitution, while slashing our educational budget so that we now rank 49th out of the 50 states.

/Welcome to North Carolina.
//Please set your watches back 200 years.

My experience with NC has always been weird, since I grew up in Carborro/Chapel Hill. So I've always been exposed to a very progressive fraction of the state, and I love my home town...

So stories like this always make me sad. =(

RminusQ: Two things I'm learning:
1. They're really running with this "recess appointment" butthurt.
2. Holy crap, the entire NC GOP should be pistol-whipped until they learn common decency.

You have wisdom.

I'm not clear on who the GOP's constituency is anymore.