These state representatives sold us out when they overturned Stein’s veto | Opinion

North Carolina Reps. Carla Cunningham and Nasif Majeed sold us out in voting to overturn Gov. Josh Stein’s veto of Senate Bill 266, which will facilitate Duke Energy building more fossil fuel plants. I have no problem with a representative bucking their political party and voting independently on principle. In fact, I admire it.

In this case, their principles are terribly misguided. Has it been hot enough for you this week? Did you somehow miss the flooding from Chantal and subsequent thunderstorms earlier this month? Have you noticed how many more storms are dumping excessive rainfall on our communities?

Unless we take serious and substantial action on slowing climate change, we’re going to use more energy to cool our homes, driving up prices and costing each of us more. We should be encouraging conservation with price incentives and shifting energy production away from fossil fuels to renewable energy, which makes economic and ecological sense for NC.

Jim Stanford, Durham

Big bill trickle

Trump’s big, beautiful bill cast a cloud over the budget work facing the General Assembly. Surely, North Carolina will get a trickle-down effect. It may require taking some state rainy day funds to clear the air and brighten the days for many of our affected residents.

Bob Williams, Fuquay-Varina

Cooper support

With Congress seemingly determined to help billionaires at the expense of everyday Americans, slashing funding for healthcare, SNAP, FEMA, and public broadcasting, Roy Cooper stands in stark contrast. Throughout his tenure as governor, Cooper fought for the rights of every North Carolinian.

Whether adding hundreds of thousands of jobs, expanding access to healthcare or providing assistance to those hit by natural disasters, he has always put us first. North Carolina’s first competitive Senate race in over a decade comes with high stakes, being one of the only pick-up opportunities for the Democrats.

Evan Clasen, Holly Springs

Cooper disdain

In the statement announcing he’s running for senate, Cooper said he had “prayed about it”. Progressives need not be alarmed by this language. Cooper still supports gay rights, open borders, transgender surgery for minors, men in women’s sports, anti-ICE protests and public funding for Planned Parenthood.

When he said he prayed about it he was only appealing to old-school Democrats who were raised in the Bible Belt. So take his aw shucks Mayberry prayer with a grain of salt.

Alan Culton, Chapel Hill

Dunn on Cooper

Andrew Dunn paints himself “conservative,” and modern conservatism frequently recasts America’s liberal Enlightenment origins as conservative, emphasizing order, tradition and religion while downplaying secularism, pluralism and radical egalitarian ideals. This is less a direct continuation of founding ideology than a strategic reinterpretation. His assessment of Roy Cooper in his July 28 column continues that.

Marshall Hardy, Raleigh

Tillis, Budd, Bove

I am furious at Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd’s votes to confirm Emil Bove to a lifetime federal judgeship on the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals. This was no routine confirmation. Bove’s nomination was plagued by serious whistleblower allegations, including claims he suggested ignoring judicial orders and an alleged audio recording contradicting his sworn testimony. For a position demanding unwavering commitment to the rule of law, these concerns are disqualifying.

Sen. Tillis’s argument about last-minute information was a hollow excuse. The gravity of a lifetime appointment demands that all credible information, regardless of when it surfaces, be investigated. Dismissing concerns on procedural grounds, not substance, is an abdication of senatorial duty. Senator Ted Budd’s apparent disinterest in this critical issue is unacceptable. I expect scrutiny from my senators with priority on our courts’ integrity.

By voting “yea,” Sens. Tillis and Budd chose partisan loyalty over fundamental principles of judicial independence and accountability. This vote undermines the integrity of our judiciary, sending a chilling message about what our elected representatives value in those who hold lifetime power in our legal system. It will not be forgotten.

Deb Oronzio, Raleigh

This story was originally published August 3, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "These state representatives sold us out when they overturned Stein’s veto | Opinion."