WCNC

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory signed into law Friday a GOP-backed bill that would strip the incoming Democratic governor of some of his powers.

Documents from General Assembly staff confirm the outgoing governor signed the measure Friday afternoon, shortly after the Legislature's final vote. Democrats argue this and another piece of legislation is a power grab by the GOP after McCrory lost the gubernatorial election to Democrat Roy Cooper, who takes office Jan. 1.

The law merges the State Board of Elections and State Ethics Commission into one board comprised equally of Democrats and Republicans. The previous state elections board law would have allowed Cooper to put a majority of Democrats on the panel.

The signing followed protest and arrests Friday as demonstrators continued to push back against Republican efforts to take away powers from Cooper.

The Associated Press reported 16 people were arrested Friday while the state House debated a bill. At least two others were led away after the Senate was disrupted, causing the body to pause a debate on a measure that would shift powers to Republicans.

The Senate arrests were made inside the gallery after Lt. Gov. Dan Forest told an audience above the Senate floor to be quiet, AP reported.

The events come a day after more than 200 demonstrators interrupted a special session of the state's General Assembly, leading to the arrests of 17 people.

Protesters shouted, "You work for us" and crowded a gallery above the Senate floor Thursday evening. They demanded Republicans accept the will of the voters in last month's election and leave Cooper's powers alone.

Forest had ordered the gallery be cleared because of "multiple disturbances." The arrested demonstrators were led away in plastic handcuffs. They faced charges of second-degree trespassing and violating building rules. Late Thursday evening, the North Carolina NAACP's Twitter account posted photos of those protesters who had been released.

Republican legislators, AP reports, want to scale back the number of political appointees Cooper can make and require Senate approval of top posts at state agencies. They're also considering altering the governor's ability to form election boards.

N.C. gov.-elect threatens to sue GOP legislature over proposals aimed to take power

Cooper, North Carolina's attorney general, defeated incumbent Republican Gov. Pat McCrory last month. Cooper has promised to go to court if he feels the measures passed in the special sessions are unconstitutional. The governor-elect said the Republican leadership's efforts are not just a partisan power grab, they're much more ominous.

Cooper said he has offered to work with Republicans and negotiate compromises. "What's happening now may look like partisan political games but the result could hurt North Carolinians," Cooper said Thursday morning.

Final approval of the bills, which is likely Friday, would send the bills to McCrory's desk, the AP reported. The governor could sign, veto or allow the bills to become last without signing them.