Rep. Mark Pless (R-Haywood) and other mountain Republicans could secure a better deal for western North Carolina hurricane relief by voting to sustain a gubernatorial veto (Photo: Clayton Henkel)

State lawmakers are back in Raleigh for another lame duck session – a time during which they ought to deemphasize politics and divisiveness and, especially as western North Carolina continues to reel from Hurricane Helene, craft ambitious common good solutions.

Instead, unfortunately, it’s likely Republican leaders will demand that all GOP members vote to override Gov. Cooper’s veto of a massive power grab bill they passed two weeks ago that would seize key duties of state offices filled by Democrats, while providing precious little in badly needed hurricane relief.

Of course, it doesn’t have to be this way. Three mountain Republicans bucked their leaders by voting against the bill when it passed the House because of how little it did to provide genuine hurricane relief and if they stuck together, they could easily block the override.

The bottom line: The GOP trio could secure a much better relief package for their constituents and strike a mighty blow against the toxic partisanship that currently infects the legislature. The key: mustering the guts to stick together and to stand up for what’s right.

For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.