Republicans in North Carolina used its supermajority to pass the pro-life legislation by overriding Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto against a 12-week abortion restriction.
Abortions are prohibited after 12 weeks under the “Care for Women, Children, and Families Act,” with exceptions provided for incest or rape up till 20 weeks and abnormalities in the fetus up until 24 weeks.
The “Care for Women, Children, and Families Act” has become law, and North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore declared, “Today the North Carolina House of Reps. is affirming the worth of human life.”
“I’m glad the House overrode the governor’s veto of this important piece of mainstream legislation. Senate Measure 20 is going to save lives, provide women and families the help they need, and bring North Carolina’s abortion laws into compliance with most of the rest of the free world,” Moore said.
The override needed unanimous support from every Republican in the state House, which included a recently defection Democrat. Cooper attempted to sway Republicans on the subject by claiming that doing so would affect “pregnant women as well as their families,” but was unsuccessful.
Despite all the pressure, the caucus decided to enact the abortion ban by a combined 72–48 majority.
A photo finish in the House was made possible by Republicans in the state Senate’s prior decision to overturn Cooper’s veto. After the vote, a sea of pro-abortion activists shouted “shame” at the Republicans from the House gallery.
The North Carolina Values Association’s Tami Fitzgerald stated, “Today represents the starting point of North Carolina’s first significant step towards evolving into a pro-life state. North Carolinians who support life have waited more than 50 years to lower the gestational age for legal prenatal killing. Legislators voted against Gov. Cooper’s harsh and unreasonable attitude on abortion without limitations up to birth by overriding his veto.”
The plan also offers pregnant women millions of dollars in support, including $59 million for foster care and $75 million for daycare.
“This measure offers pregnant women resources.” Rep. Kristin Baker said, “It offers her a wide range of tools and a big knowledge base to help her, to equip her in choosing a route ahead – a path forward for both herself and her unborn baby.”
Democrats in North Carolina, notably Attorney General Josh Stein, who will be running for governor, strongly opposed the legislation.
