Veto Override, Unemployment Benefits and Saturday Sessions

A wild day at the legislature. First the Senate voted to override the Governor’s veto of SB265. It would require state employees to contribute to premiums for their health insurance. Then it went to the House where it originally passed by a vote of 66-53, not enough to override because the House would need 72 to do that.

The Senate also approved a new formula to extend federal unemployment benefits in HB383. It also contains a continuing resolution to keep the government functioning in case the Governor vetos a Republican budget. The House then concurred with the Senate vote. Now it’s up to the Governor whether she will veto that bill because of the continuing resolution. The deadline is Saturday to approve the benefits otherwise they would be lost.

Senate and House Republicans decided to bring both chambers back into session Saturday morning. Republican House Speaker Thom Tillis said there would be no vote. Republican leader Paul Stam would preside over the Saturday session with two other Republican members.