Gov. Josh Stein Vetoes Anti-DEI and Transgender Rights Bills

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein vetoed four controversial bills last week, including three targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts and another impacting transgender rights.

The Democratic governor condemned the measures as divisive and accused Republican lawmakers of using culture war issues to distract from more urgent priorities, like passing a state budget for the new fiscal year, which began this week.

“These mean-spirited bills would marginalize vulnerable people and also undermine the quality of public services and public education,” Stein said in a statement.

The Republican-controlled legislature has made scaling back DEI programs a top priority, proposing legislation to cut such efforts in state and local government, K-12 schools, and public universities. GOP leaders argue the programs overemphasize identity politics at the expense of merit and unity.

Stein’s vetoes are expected to set the stage for more clashes with lawmakers, who hold veto-proof majorities and could attempt to override his decisions in the coming weeks.

Source: AP News