Lynn Bonner, NC Newsline

The party switch is a remarkable turnaround for the Mecklenburg County representative who rested on her reputation as a public school supporter when she first joined the House in 2007 as a former classroom teacher and administrator.

GOP agenda items for schools, COVID, elections, judicial retirement are included in omnibus proposal—Medicaid expansion could be impacted.

The state House voted 71-46 Wednesday to override Cooper’s veto, following the Senate’s override vote Tuesday. 

Cooper vetoed a version of the bill in 2021, but there’s a greater likelihood his veto will be overridden this year.

The proposed $32.9 billion state budget that includes 18 percent average raises for teachers.

If Republican legislators secure all they want from the high court, they will be able to redraw state House and Senate districts, in addition to congressional voting districts, for the 2024 election without concern that state courts will find them unconstitutionally partisan.

The redistricting case will be heard on Tuesday and the voter ID case on Wednesday.

But the expansion part of the bill would be void if there’s not a new state budget in place by June 30.

Asked about previously overridden bills gaining new life, House Speaker Tim Moore replied: “Sometimes the circumstances are better to get a good idea passed into law.”

Under the agreement, Medicaid expansion would be effective upon passage of the budget.