North Carolina
North Carolina GOP Bans Most Abortions After 12 Weeks—Overriding Governor’s Veto
Topline
North Carolina’s GOP-led House and Senate voted to override Democratic Governor Roy Cooper’s veto of a bill that bans nearly all abortions after 12 weeks, becoming the latest state to severely restrict access to the procedure since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year.
FILE PHOTO: People gather to protest against the the Supreme Court’s decision in the Dobbs v Jackson … [+]
Key Facts
The veto override passed with a 72-48 vote in the state’s House and 30-20 in the state Senate, barely clearing the three-fifths majority needed for such a move.
The new law will restrict nearly all abortions in the state after 12 weeks, down from the state’s earlier 20-week cutoff, and is set to go into effect on July 1.
Patients seeking an abortion during the cutoff period will now be required to meet a doctor 72 hours before the procedure.
The ban carves out minor exceptions in cases of rape and incest, where the cutoff remains at 20 weeks and “life-limiting” anomalies till 24 weeks.
The procedure can also be carried out if a doctor believes a woman’s life is in danger.
The law will also heavily restrict access to abortion drugs like mifepristone, as its prescription will now require a visit to the doctor, who will need to determine the gestational age of a fetus is no more than 10 weeks before prescribing the medication.
Chief Critic
Cooper criticized the veto override, saying: “Strong majorities of North Carolinians don’t want right-wing politicians in the exam room with women and their doctors…North Carolinians now understand that Republicans are unified in their assault on women’s reproductive freedom and we are energized to fight back on this and other critical issues facing our state.”
News Peg
The GOP managed to gain the supermajority needed to override Cooper’s veto last month after state Rep. Tricia Cotham switched parties from Democrat to Republican. Cotham—who supported abortion rights during her campaign—said she voted for the ban because the bill “strikes a reasonable balance on the abortion issue” and carves out special funding for women and children in the state, CNN reported.
Key Background
After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, fourteen states have implemented outright bans on abortions, with very minor exceptions. The list includes Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Two other states, Florida and Georgia, restrict the procedure after six weeks—which experts argue is too early for women to know they are pregnant.
Further Reading
North Carolina’s GOP-led General Assembly overrides Democratic governor’s 12-week abortion ban veto (CNN)