RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The Latest on a legal battle over North Carolina constitutional amendments (all times local):
12:45 p.m.
A panel of judges is deciding whether North Carolina’s Republican-dominated legislature is trying to fool voters with cleverly worded amendments that would change the constitution by stripping more power from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper in favor of lawmakers.
A three-judge panel heard Wednesday from lawyers arguing whether lawmakers previously blocked by courts from diminishing Cooper can put two proposed amendments before voters without describing their full effect.
If approved, Cooper believes the amendments would enhance the legislature’s power by letting it take over some judicial appointments. It would also gain control of boards and commissions that decide rules for everything from beauty salons to natural gas fracking and running community colleges.
Republican legislative leaders deny that voters will be misled by the questions because they can read the language for themselves.
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12:30 a.m.
Legal motions by North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and interest groups to keep constitutional amendments proposed by the Republican-controlled General Assembly off November ballots are back in court.
A three-judge panel scheduled arguments Wednesday on requests by Cooper, the state NAACP and Clean Air Carolina to block referendums while lawsuits they filed challenging ballot language continue.
Cooper focuses on two amendments that if approved would shift power over filling judicial vacancies and controlling boards and commissions from the governor to the legislature. The other groups also want stopped amendments to mandate photo identification to vote and to lower the income tax rate cap.
Republican legislative leaders reject the plaintiffs’ contention that voters will be misled by the questions, adding they easily can access actual texts of the amendments.
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