Gov. Pat McCrory vetoes drug testing bill

RALEIGH — The first veto by North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory blocks a requirement that certain welfare applicants get tested for drugs before receiving benefits.

McCrory announced Thursday he vetoed the bill left on his desk from the legislative session that ended last month. The Republican governor says in a statement that parts of the bill are unfair and fiscally irresponsible. He says similar programs in other states show it would do little to fight drug addiction.

McCrory issued an executive order to address another section of the vetoed bill on criminal background checks for welfare applicants.

The governor must call lawmakers back to Raleigh by early September for them to consider overriding the veto. The bill passed by wide margins in the House and Senate.