North Carolina GOP Overrides Veto of 12-Week Abortion Ban

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Facts

  • North Carolina’s Republican-controlled Generally Assembly on Tuesday voted to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of a bill that would ban most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy, reduced from a prior 20-week restriction.1
  • The ban applies to elective abortions except in the instance of rape, incest, life-limiting fetal anomalies, and medical emergencies in the first trimester. The law also includes funding for foster and childcare as well as paid parental leave.2
  • The Care for Women, Children and Families Act passed the General Assembly earlier this month, but Cooper vetoed it Saturday. The state Senate voted 30-20, and the House voted 72-48 to override the veto.3
  • Beyond the 12-week ban, the law requires post-12-week abortions to occur in a hospital and requires verification of the gestational age by a physician. Clinics performing abortions will have additional licensing requirements, and mothers will be required to visit a clinic and receive counseling.4
  • Since SCOTUS overturned Roe v. Wade last June, every state south of Virginia and east of New Mexico has implemented or passed new abortion restrictions. North Carolina had been the last holdout.5

Sources: 1Associated Press, 2Reuters, 3BBC News, 4CBS, and 5POLITICO.

Narratives

  • Democratic narrative, as provided by Guardian. This law is the latest blow struck by Republicans against women’s rights despite the unpopularity of the party’s abortion policies. With North Carolina serving as the last bastion of abortion access for many living in the region, women’s lives are now at greater risk, and many families will be put in precarious positions moving forward.
  • Republican narrative, as provided by Townhall. These common-sense abortion regulations are baselessly being characterized as a threat to women's health. If it were up to Democrats, there would be no limits on abortions, but Republicans are making sure there are, and the ones that do happen are safer. Most abortions performed in the state are within the 12-week limit anyway, so this law shouldn't be deemed "extreme," as the governor called it.

Predictions