NC Gov. Cooper vetoes 'Bar Bill"

NC Gov. Roy Cooper has vetoed a bill that would have allowed bars to reopen in outdoor areas and limited the power of the governor or municipal authorities to close them again.

Posted 8:31 p.m. Jun 5, 2020 — Updated 4:54 p.m. Jun 6, 2020

Laura Leslie

, WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief

RALEIGH, N.C. — Gov. Roy Cooper has vetoed a bill that would have allowed bars to reopen in outdoor areas and limited the power of the governor or municipal authorities to close them again in case of a new spike in cases.

Cooper made the announcement in a press release Friday afternoon.

"State and local government leaders must be able to act quickly during the COVID-19 emergency to prevent a surge in cases that could overwhelm hospitals and harm the public," said Cooper in a statement. "House Bill 536 would limit the ability of leaders to respond quickly to COVID-19 and hamper the health and safety of every North Carolinian."

State lawmakers sent the measure to the governor's desk last Thursday. It had bipartisan support in the Senate, but little Democratic support in the House, setting up a likely veto showdown – the first of the 2020 legislative session.

The measure, House Bill 536, would have also allowed restaurants to set up temporary outdoor serving spaces to increase their capacity under pandemic occupancy limitations.

The measure now returns to the House, which would be the first chamber required to override the veto.

House Speaker Tim Moore said the measure would simply put bars on an equal footing with restaurants.

"The Governor's veto of a commonsense and safe outdoor seating policy shows his unwillingness to respond to cries for help by family-owned businesses across North Carolina," Moore, R-Cleveland, said in a statement Friday afternoon.

Lt. Gov Dan Forest, Cooper's Republican challenger in November, said other states have reopened bars with "no negative impact on public health," and North Carolina should do the same.

"Gov. Cooper needs to stop saying he’s basing all his decisions for keeping our economy shut down on 'science and data.' By vetoing the 'Bar Bill,' he is claiming that 'science' says it is safe for a brewery to be open but not a bar," Forest said in a statement. "Gov. Cooper continues to drag his heels on reopening our economy, for no discernible reason."

Saturday, the NC Bar and Tavern Association who filed a lawsuit against the state said they were "disappointed" to learn about the governor vetoing the bill.

"We believe that the mention of a Phase 2.5 indicates the Governor is starting to hear our message and come to that conclusion as well," President of the association, Zack Medford, said.

The group filed a lawsuit on behalf of 185 businesses. It seeks a temporary restraining order and preliminary and permanent injunctions against Gov. Roy Cooper's executive order.

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