North Carolina Governor Vetoes Legislation Cracking Down on DEI

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein vetoed several bills last week that would prevent public schools, institutions of higher education, and state entities from engaging in discriminatory DEI practices.

Now, the bills go back to North Carolina’s legislature, where lawmakers seek a supermajority to override Stein’s veto. 

The vetoed legislation ensures that public entities are not using their perch – and taxpayer money – to promote radical DEI ideology.

Senate Bill 558 ensures publicly-funded institutions of higher education, such as medical schools, do not engage in or promote discriminatory practices, and do not maintain offices to promote divisive and discriminatory practices.

Senate Bill 227 applies similar protections to public schools, while House Bill 171 ensures that state agencies do not use taxpayer money to fund DEI initiatives or maintain their own discriminatory DEI policies.

In his statement on the veto, Stein implied the legislation was in some way bigoted.

“These mean-spirited bills would marginalize vulnerable people and also undermine the quality of public services and public education,” Stein said.

But the legislation does just the opposite: the bills protect individuals from enduring discrimination on the basis of race, and ensure that institutions of higher education are not vectors for divisive and discriminatory ideology.

Stein’s veto prevents these protections against racial discrimination.

DEI, by its very nature, demands discriminatory hiring practices, admissions policies, and other race-conscious selection criteria to achieve its goal of “diversity” and equitable outcomes between racial groups.

Curbing these practices in higher education is essential to restore universities and medical schools to the pursuit of fairness, merit, and excellence.

North Carolinians should not be subjected to racial discrimination under the guise of “diversity” and “equity.”