Thread: Cooper responds over NC absence in Obama lawsuit

Cooper responds over NC absence in Obama lawsuit

Posted: Dec 05, 2014 4:29 PM CSTUpdated: Dec 06, 2014 4:52 AM CSTby Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. -With Gov. Pat McCrory joining a lawsuit challenging President Barack Obama's executive actions on immigration, Attorney General Roy Cooper said Friday that he would monitor the case to determine whether North Carolina should join it.

But the Democrat questioned entering a "partisan lawsuit" and worried it would cause further division on the immigration issue.

McCrory, a Republican, this week joined the lawsuit spearheaded by the Texas attorney general as part of a 17-state coalition. McCrory is one of four governors who are plaintiffs.

The lawsuit claims Obama's executive order last month on immigration exceeded his powers laid out in the U.S. Constitution. The president's order aims to prevent the deportation of as many as 5 million people living illegally in the United States.

Cooper, whose office represents the state in litigation, is not involved in the lawsuit. His office initially learned about it through a news media report, spokeswoman Noelle Talley said.

McCrory told reporters Thursday that he encouraged "support from our attorney general" in the case, and Lt. Gov. Dan Forest urged Cooper in a letter later Thursday to join the case.

Responding to Forest, Cooper said he was one of 35 attorneys general who urged Congress last year in a letter to approve comprehensive immigration reform, which has yet to occur.

Attorneys in Cooper's office will work to determine the litigation's effect on North Carolina "and whether there is benefit for our state to join," Cooper wrote. "However, I am concerned that a partisan lawsuit adds to the divisiveness that has prevented meaningful immigration reform in the first place."

McCrory's office issued a statement Friday night saying it was disappointed in Cooper's response, describing it as "the latest example in a series of failures from the attorney general's office to defend North Carolinians from the actions of the president and the laws of our great state."

In his letter to Cooper, Forest said failure to join on behalf of the state would "acquiesce to a constitutional violation that has the potential to harm all North Carolinians." In announcing his involvement Wednesday, McCrory said Obama's action would likely put more financial strains on state government services.

The back-and-forth may have some bearing on future elections. Cooper is planning a run for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 2016. McCrory asked this week for donations to "start off the 2016 campaign season" and unveiled an upgraded campaign website. State GOP Chairman Claude Pope also called for Cooper to join the lawsuit.

Many top Republicans have denounced Obama's order. Mostly conservative states have joined the lawsuit.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

http://www.wncn.com/story/27560459/cooper-responds-over-nc-absence-in-obama-lawsuit

Upholding the US Constitution, ensuring Separation of Powers, and Protecting Our Sovereign Territory by faithfully executing our laws is a "partisan lawsuit"? Seriously?! Are you really admitting in public that the Democratic Party in North Carolina does not support these crucial roles of government whereas Republicans do?

Well, I guess you're right about that.

GO REPUBLICANS! Saving our nation once again from the ravages of cheap labor.