It was a rare gathering of five former North Carolina governors of both political parties, as Will Rierson reports for Carolina Journal. All five attended Monday’s news conference to express opposition to two constitutional amendments the General Assembly has passed and that are scheduled to appear on the November ballot.
Martin said he arranged the meeting with his colleagues Jim Hunt, Mike Easley, Beverly Perdue, and Pat McCrory, because they agreed the proposed amendments — House Bill 913 and Senate Bill 814 — would damage separation of powers. They also would shift too much control away from the executive and judicial branches of government to the legislature. The governors planned to meet with political strategist Paul Shumaker to discuss ways to oppose the amendments, including the possibility of forming an official committee, raising money, and running ad campaigns.
They also urged media outlets to inform the public about the amendments and let voters make up their own minds on the measures — though Perdue added she wanted voters to reject them.
Read the full details of the news conference here.
