CHARLOTTE, NC – Governor-elect Roy Cooper is promising quick action on House Bill 2.
It’s still unknown whether the Republican-controlled legislature will be willing to work with him.
“They know it’s a problem. They know it’s a problem for our businesses and they know it’s a problem for our economy,” Cooper says.
He hopes public pressure will force lawmakers to work with him.
“I know that a lot of moderate Republicans, in places right here in Charlotte, across the state are going to be inclined to reconsider the repeal of the bill,” says State Representative and Executive Director of Equality NC Chris Sgro.
He believes Cooper will engage lawmakers and make a concerted effort to work with both sides.
“He had spent a huge amount of time in the legislature and he knows how to work with other legislators. So his bully pulpit is going to be incredibly powerful,” Sgro says.
WCCB Charlotte spoke with State Representative Dan Bishop, a co-author of
House Bill 2.
He declined an interview, but said over the phone he still thinks it’s up to Charlotte city leaders to take the first steps toward compromise.
Earlier this year, Republican lawmakers said they’d consider repealing the law if City Council first dropped the LGBT provisions in the city’s updated anti-discrimination ordinance.
“I’d like to see what the local elected officials are going to do, if anything,” says Democrat State Senator Joel Ford.
Ford says while he’s optimistic that Cooper will be able to work with lawmakers, he’d like to see city leaders do more.
“Hopefully the local leadership in the City of Charlotte will work on an initiative that will repeal HB2,” Ford says.
Ford is considering challenging Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts in 2017.