Over-ride looking unlikely
The General Assembly has been called back into session to consider over-riding Gov. Mike Easley’s veto of HB 706. But it looks like House Democrats are doing their best to avoid an actual vote though.
If you don't remember, this is the bill that would have made it easier for local school districts to recruit teachers from other states. Easley complained that it would lower North Carolina’s own standards. (For prior stories on this, click here.)
House Democrats emerging from a caucus meeting Tuesday morning said that Speaker Jim Black is trying to hammer out a compromise with the governor's office. That compromise will probably be something along the lines of granting automatic reciprocity to teachers from states with standards as high as North Carolinas. Teachers from other states would still have some hurdles to jump through.
One House member told me, "I don't think there's a desire for a political showdown with the governor."
Unless, of course, you're a Republican.
Republicans I talked to this morning were chomping at the bit to over-ride the veto, saying that the governor was ignoring the realities facing local school districts.
Process-wise, expect the House to convene tomorrow, refer the bill to committee, and then high-tail it out of town. Without House action, the Senate has no play.
For you junior historians out there, there have been six vetos by N.C. governors since the power was given to them. None of those vetos have been over-ridden.