(RALEIGH) -- In an early morning session, the General Assembly overrode Gov. Beverly Perdue's veto of a bill that eliminated dues being automatically deducted from state employees who are members of North Carolina's largest teachers' group. The votes infuriated Perdue who called the vote "unconstitutional."

The Senate overrode Perdue’s veto in July, but the House did not attempt an override because it lacked the three-fifths majority. Instead, the House called a session at 1 a.m. Thursday on the tail of a special session called for an attempted override of Perdue’s veto of a bill that would essentially repeal the Racial Justice Act.

On Wednesday, House leadership called the early morning session and was able to muster just enough votes, 69-45, to overturn Perdue’s veto of the teacher dues ban, in part, by taking advantage of the absence of several Democratic members and the , the return of two Republicans. Democratic Reps. William Brisson and Jim Crawford voted with the Republicans to override Perdue's veto.

Democrats, including the governor condemned the House leadership's actions arguing the session was intended only to consider Perdue's veto of a bill that essentially overturns the Racial Justice Act.

In a statement Perdue said:
 
"The Republicans in the General Assembly didn't have the votes to get what they wanted legally," she said. "So, in the dark of night, they engaged in an unprecedented, unconstitutional power grab."

The override strips the ability of the 70,000-member North Carolina Association of Educators to have dues deducted directly from teachers' paychecks. That revenue stream funds many of the association's activities, including its lobbying and other political activities.

The bill that was overridden, specifically targeted the North Carolina Association of of Educators. The bill didn't touch the paycheck dues deduction for other employee groups, particularly the State Employees Association of North Carolina. The NCAE has traditionally sided and supported Democrats, SEANC did work with the Republican leadership this year.

An NCAE lobbyist said the group plans to challenge the ban in court.