From an editorial published in the (Raleigh) News & Observer on Feb. 25:

Republicans in the General Assembly, full of oats and feeling them with their first control of both houses in more than a century, couldn't wait to take a slap at President Obama by opting North Carolina out of some provisions of federal health care reform.

So they passed a law to that effect using all the free-market positions that congressional Republicans used in their unsuccessful fight to stop the president from trying to ensure that all Americans have access to quality health care. The reform concept has public support even if people have been confused by the law's complexity, and by the cynical and inflammatory points raised against it.

The legislative leaders would have Attorney General Roy Cooper, a Democrat, waste more of the state's time and money by joining other states in a lawsuit to overturn national reform. Cooper rightly recognizes that the issue is likely to be settled by the U.S. Supreme Court anyway, and that Republicans want to enlist him in a foolish ideological battle.

Gov. Beverly Perdue also thinks the GOP maneuver is wrong. So why is the governor indicating that while she'll not sign the legislation, she won't veto it either?

That means it will become law in 10 days, absent her Hancock.

She should veto the legislation immediately as a statement of principle.

It appears Perdue would rather avoid another confrontation with Republicans, having just used the veto to reject legislation that would have gathered money from various reserves, including $8.2 million that the state offers as incentives to lure new business.

That's the one the governor really stood behind, saying the money was needed for recruiting.

Yet there's no quota on confrontations between the governor and the Republican leaders of the legislature. She should not hesitate to stand up for what she believes, even if it leads to a little case of veto elbow.