NC Capitol Wrap

Republicans scored major wins in statewide and legislative races, while Gov. Roy Cooper was the lone bright spot for Democrats. The results mean the GOP will again control the redistricting process next year.

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The General Assembly adjourned for the year after passing a $1 billion package of pandemic relief, and Vice President Mike Pence rallies abortion opponents in Raleigh two months out from the November election.

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The Senate passed a package of about $1 billion in federal coronavirus pandemic relief funds, but the measure includes an expansion of the Opportunity Scholarships school vouchers that Democrats despise, setting up a potential fight with Gov. Roy Cooper. The Senate also approved $18 million in incentives for an unidentified "sports championship employer."

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Plenty of political- and election-related lawsuits, a new House Rules chairman and new jobs for some former lawmakers.

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Lawmakers failed to override five of Gov Roy Cooper's vetoes and punted on a sixth. They agreed to indefinitely suspend a state law that makes it illegal to wear masks in public for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic, but they couldn't agree on a push to allow school districts the option of using remote instruction for the start of the school year next month.

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Lawmakers return to Raleigh for a quick session, but a number of differences remain between the House and the Senate, including whether to continue allowing people to legally wear masks in public during the coronavirus pandemic and whether to allow remote learning off the bat when schools reopen next month. Meanwhile, some bowling alleys rolled a strike in winning their legal challenge to the state's pandemic-related shutdown order.

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The General Assembly wrapped up its legislative session early Friday after a marathon session where as many things were left undone as accomplished.

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Gov. Roy Cooper hit the pause button on the state's effort to reopen businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, lawmakers failed in their effort to override Cooper's veto of a measure that would allow gyms and bars to reopen despite his closure orders. And what's a legislative session without a sweepstakes bill? One finally surfaced days before lawmakers are expected to adjourn.

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The fallout from the weekend removal of Confederate monuments outside the State Capitol – first by protesters and then by order of Gov. Roy Cooper to protect public safety – now includes a holdup on funding for monuments in downtown Raleigh to honor African-Americans. Lawmakers have sent two more bills pushing reopening during the pandemic – one for amusement parks and party venues and the other to prevent July 4th celebrations from being blocked – as Cooper weighs the next steps in the state's pandemic response. A bill directing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal coronavirus stimulus funds, mostly to state and local government agencies, also includes a couple of earmarks for unrelated programs that failed to gain traction on their own before the pandemic.

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Senators say a pandemic isn't a good reason not to celebrate Independence Day, so they passed a measure that would prevent cities from blocking parades or fireworks displays by civic groups. They also passed yet another bill to reopen more businesses during the pandemic – this time amusement parks and entertainment venues, and fairs and carnivals were tacked on as well. But Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed an earlier bill that would have allowed gyms to reopen and bars to serve customers outdoors. And what's a church service without guns? Lawmakers don't want to know, approving legislation that would allow people with concealed carry permits to be armed inside a church even if it's in a school building that the church uses to hold services.

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