By ICLT member, Marshal Auron
2023 was a fateful year for the Republican General Assembly, as it resumed its march to implement a reactionary and regressive agenda.
74 new laws were signed by the Governor, 19 were vetoed and 13 took effect without his signature.
Despite a bright spot in the passage of Medicare expansion, the 19 vetoed laws were overridden and some undermine women’s health, LGBTQ+ rights, gun control and public education.
The veto overrides were courtesy of District 105 Representative Tricia Cotham. Her party switch from Democrat to Republican provided a legislative supermajority and nullified the Governor’s ability to veto undesirable bills.
Despite valiant efforts to turn the party tide in the legislature, a November victory by presumptive Gubernatorial Republican nominee Mark Robinson will likely continue this reactionary march.
Let’s do a deep dive into the good, bad and ugly of 2023’s new legislation.