NC House coalition overrides gov's historic veto

RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina House has voted to cancel out Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue's historic veto of the two-year state budget.

The vote Wednesday just after midnight was 73-46. That's just enough to meet the three-fifths majority required to override a veto.

When she vetoed the measure on Sunday, she became the first governor to veto a budget plan since being given the power in 1997.

The margin clears the path for the Republican-penned budget bill to be enacted later over Perdue's repeated and harsh objections.

The Senate is expected to hold its override vote later in the day. Its Republican majority is veto-proof.

The House GOP majority is a few votes short, but five Democrats joined Republicans in passing the final budget earlier this month.

The override is a tough defeat for Perdue.