NC governor vetoes abortion restrictions
North Carolina’s Democratic Governor vetoed on Saturday a bill that would have banned most abortions after 12 weeks in the state. This move now faces an override by Republicans in the State Legislature.
Gov. Roy Cooper (D, N.C.) blocked the measure in Raleigh in front of an audience of supporters. The bill had passed the legislature on a party-line vote last week. Cooper urged the crowd to put pressure on Republicans at the statehouse so that his veto would stand.
Cooper stated that “we’re going have to step it up a notch when the veto stamp is down.” We can stop the ban if just one Republican, in the House or Senate, keeps their campaign promise.
North Carolina’s state law currently prohibits abortions up to 20 weeks. The 12-week limit was imposed by Republicans after Roe v. Wade fell last year. GOP legislators in the state House of Representatives and Senate, where they hold majorities, could vote this week to override Cooper’s veto. Overriding Cooper’s veto would require a three-fifths vote in each chamber.
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The bill includes exceptions to the ban on most abortions after twelve weeks. The window for rape and incest is extended to 20 weeks. For “life-limiting” fetal abnormalities, the restriction is extended to 24 weeks.
In North Carolina, Cooper’s showdown with state Republicans comes at a time when a number of Republican-led States have passed laws that restrict abortion access. According to the New York Times, there are 19 states in America that have either a complete or partial ban on abortion.
Many states in the U.S. South surround North Carolina, which makes it a popular destination for those seeking abortions in that region. Kentucky, Alabama and Tennessee are states that have a complete ban on abortions.
