Bad idea: GOP going too far in limiting powers of governor

The Republican-dominated General Assembly has passed legislation that would limit the governor's ability to appoint people to local elections boards, a right that state law created more than a century ago.

We believe it is a bad idea, one that would upset the balance of power set forth in the state Constitution.

The people of North Carolina deserve a fair and balanced government, with power distributed fairly among the legislative, executive and judicial branches. The legislature in this state already carries the most power, and this move would give it even more, weakening the governor who is elected by the people to do a particular job.

There is a reason that the state Constitution gives the governor certain powers of appointment. He or she is elected by all the people of the state, unlike legislators who are elected by voters in various districts. No one branch of the government should have too much power. It is dangerous and wrong.

The legislation approved by both the House and Senate also would turn the local boards of election into four-member panels -- a recipe for stalemate and quite simply a stupid idea.

There is only one reason lawmakers have come up with this proposal. The governor is a Democrat. If you believe they would have gone the same route if the governor was a Republican, we have some swampland we think you might be interested in.

Published in Editorials on April 13, 2017 9:32 AM