North Carolina passes new 12-week abortion ban
The North Carolina Senate passed a bill Thursday banning most abortions after 12 weeks.
The new legislation now goes to the desk of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper who is expected to veto the law.
Watch: North Carolina Senate passes 12-week abortion ban https://t.co/44399YKV2T
— Just the News (@JustTheNews) May 5, 2023
The controversy
"Over the objection of Gov. Roy Cooper (D-NC), Republican legislators in the Tar Heel State reached a "compromise" agreement on limiting abortion earlier this week, which passed the House last night 71-46 with the help of state Rep. Tricia Cotham, who switched parties from Democrat to Republican last month," the Washington Examiner reported.
"Cooper has vowed to veto the bill, which will likely be overridden by three-fifths of the House and Senate," it added.
The bill would tighten restrictions on abortions, and may affect those seeking care from nearby states with more restrictive laws on abortion.
https://t.co/zuLeJMBMJK— Scripps News (@scrippsnews) May 5, 2023
The details
"The legislature's bill shortens the window for obtaining legal abortions from 20 weeks' pregnancy to 12 week's pregnancy," Scripps News reported.
"It puts new restrictions on exceptions: abortions in cases of rape or incest would be legal until 20 weeks, and abortions in case of 'life-limiting' fetal anomalies would be legal until 24 weeks," it added.
— Sharkbait MAGA Extreme Republican (@ocean_affair) May 5, 2023
"Democrats and abortion rights supporters slammed the bill's Republican backers for bringing it to a vote in the House less than 24 hours after introducing it late Tuesday night, precluding the lengthier analysis and debate that would usually happen around such legislation," Reuters reported.
The controversy is likely to extend into the next election as Cooper will face strong opposition from Republicans who see his likely veto as motivation to replace him with a conservative leader.
The new abortion law adds to further restrictions from several conservative states following last year's Supreme Court decision to allow states to determine abortion laws. Over 20 states have already passed new abortion laws.
The North Carolina decision offered an interesting look at a Republican-controlled legislature and a Democratic governor battling for legislation on the issue. Kentucky is another state that has recently experienced a similar situation under Democratic Gov. Andy Beshears.
The latest state law in North Carolina continues to move ahead, with many expecting the governor to lose in an override from his legislature as the state seeks to protect the lives of the unborn.
