North Carolina lawmakers voted to override the veto by Democratic Governor Roy Cooper on a ban on most abortions after 12 weeks. The state’s Republican-controlled legislature had passed the measure in early May, prompting Governor Cooper’s veto over the weekend. However, Republicans overturned the veto in consecutive votes, leading to protests and chants of “shame” from onlookers.
The law, which reduces the abortion window in the state from 20 weeks to 12 weeks, will take effect on July 1. The state Senate voted 30-20 and the House voted 72-48 to override the veto, with only one Republican defection potentially altering the outcome.
The legislation, officially known as the Care for Women, Children and Families Act, was passed along party lines in both the state Senate and House of Representatives. Governor Cooper, in his veto, argued that the bill hinders progress and regresses women’s health by taking a step back of 50 years.
The law bans most abortions after 12 weeks, allowing exceptions for cases of rape, incest, medical emergencies, and life-limiting anomalies until 20 and 24 weeks. It also imposes additional requirements, such as an in-person consultation with a doctor before the procedure, and restricts the use of abortion pills after 10 weeks, mandating hospital-based procedures after 12 weeks.
$160 million In Funding For Contraception
The law includes $160 million in funding for contraception, foster care, childcare, and paid parental leave. Republicans hold slim supermajorities in both chambers of the statehouse, giving them the ability to override the Democratic governor’s veto.
The Republican party achieved its veto-proof supermajority after a Democratic congresswoman switched her party affiliation to Republican. The party’s three-fifths majority in both the Senate and House allowed them to override the veto, while Governor Cooper launched a last-minute campaign to persuade Republican lawmakers to defect.
After the veto override, four female Republican lawmakers released a joint statement in support of the new law, highlighting its focus on cherishing motherhood and protecting the lives of the unborn. Democratic representatives, however, expressed concerns that the law would negatively impact women in the state and create a less welcoming environment.
This move in North Carolina reflects a broader trend in the United States, with 14 states passing near-total abortion bans following the Supreme Court’s decision last year to end the nationwide right to abortion. North Carolina witnessed a 37% increase in abortions after the Supreme Court ruling, primarily driven by women traveling from other southern states where abortion restrictions are more prevalent.
