GOP Relinquishes Majority Control Of General Assembly
In a stunning move that left political pundits scratching their heads, NC House Speaker Thom Tillis, a Mecklenburg Republican, announced today that the GOP has signed off on a power-sharing agreement with Democrats, cutting short the Republican Party’s historic gains at the polls this past November.
“It’s called reaching across the aisle,” said Tillis. “It’s easy to talk the talk on compromise; we’re walking the walk. I understand that some critics will squawk, but there’s no reason to think we still can’t accomplish what the voters sent us here to do.”
It’s unclear exactly how the new power-sharing arrangement will work, but Gov. Bev Perdue congratulated Republicans for their willingness to govern from the center, for the children.
“This is the type of bipartisan cooperation our citizens deserve,” said Perdue, sharpening her quill to sign another veto of Republican-led legislation.
House Minority Co-Majority Leader Joe Hackney, a Chatham Democrat, echoed the governor’s sentiments.
“We’re grateful for the opportunity to work with our colleagues across the aisle,” Hackney said, “and fully understand the responsibility of leadership that comes with this unexpected turn of events.”
Hackney said the Democrats first order of business would be to tackle the contentious issue of redistricting that looms on the horizon, and vowed it would be a bipartisan effort.
“Our track record for fair and equitable compromise when it comes to redistricting speaks for itself,” Hackney said. “We want to assure Republicans that this time will be no different.”
Tillis conceded that the latest developments could produce a few bumps in the road, but nothing that couldn’t be smoothed over by level heads. The house’s new co-speaker, however, cautioned against overreaching and using the GOP’s electoral mandate as a political club.
“What we don’t want to do is run the risk of alienating or disenfranchising anyone,” Tillis said. “This is a mutually advantageous governing partnership that will serve the people of this great state.”
Perdue is expected to sign the new power-sharing agreement into law effective April 1.
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