Fate of boat-towing bill vetoed by Easley in legislators' hands

By: JournalNow Staff | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 27, 2008

RALEIGH

North Carolina lawmakers were planning to return to Raleigh today to consider fighting Gov. Mike Easley's veto of a bill that would ease restrictions on towing boats.

The veto session has required some Democrats, such as House Speaker Joe Hackney, to book last-minute flights back from their party's national convention in Denver. As of yesterday, Easley and Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand, D-Cumberland, had no plans to return.

Although the bill passed by wide margins in both chambers, legislative leaders haven't decided whether they'll vote to overturn Easley's veto, allow the veto to stand, or draft a compromise bill.

Hackney, D-Orange, says he believes that most members in his chamber want the opportunity to consider the legislation again, spokesman Bill Holmes said Tuesday.

"At this point, there is overwhelming support for overriding the veto," Holmes said.

The state's constitution requires North Carolina governors to call legislators back to session within 10 days of vetoing legislation; if they don't, the vetoed bill automatically becomes law. Easley announced the session on Monday.

Summoning legislators back to Raleigh puts the measure, which would allow boats up to 10 feet wide to be towed without a permit, back in the General Assembly's hands. The measure also lifts some restrictions on when boats can be towed by allowing watercraft from 8½ to 9½ feet wide to be towed at night and on weekends.

Last Sunday, on the last day that he had to take action on legislation from the summer session, Easley rejected the boat-towing measure, citing safety concerns. A top Easley aide had warned legislators before they passed it that the governor thought that it would endanger motorists and other travelers, especially when the big boats are pulled on narrow bridges and roads.

Legislative leaders can overturn Easley's veto if three-fifths of members present vote in favor of the bill. The veto will stand if there aren't the requisite votes.

But with the relatively short notice and some Democrats out of town for their party's national convention, it is also unclear how many legislators will attend the scheduled Wednesday morning session.

The plan's supporters had pushed this year for the legislation as a way to help North Carolina's boaters, who felt that the current boat-towing law is too restrictive.

But opponents, including safety coalitions and the state Highway Patrol, said that the changes would cause accidents.

"This legislation, as written, will jeopardize safety on our highways," said Bryan Beatty, the secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, in a letter to newspapers Monday.