By Dave Andrusko
Pro-abortion North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has vetoed more bills than any governor in the state’s history and he has rarely had a veto overturned. But yesterday, by the narrowest of margins, the General Assembly voted 72-48 in the House and 30-20 in the Senate to reject his veto of SB20 which would protect unborn babies after the 12th week.
Knowing that all his fellow Democrats would vote to sustain his veto, Cooper spent the last week looking for help from Republicans.
“If just one Republican in either the House or the Senate keeps a campaign promise to protect women’s reproductive health, we can stop this ban,” Cooper said Saturday, the day before Mother’s Day. His attempt to pressure Republicans failed.
Yesterday, after the vote, he said, “North Carolinians now understand that Republicans are unified in their assault on women’s reproductive freedom, and we are energized to fight back on this and other critical issues facing our state.”
Rep. Kristin Baker, a Cabarrus County Republican and psychiatrist, countered, “This bill provides resources for the pregnant woman. It provides broad resources and a significant knowledge base to enable her, to equip her in finding a path forward — a path forward for her, and a path forward for her unborn child.”
“North Carolina has taken steps to protect some babies and North Carolina Right to Life is thankful whenever a child is saved,” said Bill Pincus, M.D., president of North Carolina Right to Life. “The fact remains that 99% of abortions are performed on healthy women, carrying healthy babies and the vast majority of abortions occur before 12 weeks. In every case of an abortion, a baby dies. If abortion is healthcare as they claim, exactly what disease are we treating?”
Set to take effect July 1, the Care for Women, Children, and Families Act will include rape or incest exceptions through 20 weeks of pregnancy and exceptions for “life-limiting” fetal anomalies during the first 24 weeks. The existing life of the mother exception will carry over.
Meanwhile, South Carolina is in a pitched battle over a law that protects unborn children from abortion once the baby’s heartbeat can be detected. Florida passed its own heartbeat law on April 13.
North Carolina Right to Life explained that
North Carolina Right to Life works to save the life of every unborn child it possibly can.
We hope the new law, which allows unlimited abortion for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, saves many precious lives. But we know that statistically about 90% of abortions occur before 12 weeks. This means that many, many babies with beating hearts will continue to die.
The abortion tragedy in North Carolina has not been solved and we will continue to work for life until these babies are safe as well.
The Care for Women, Children, and Families Act
protects babies from chemical and surgical abortion after 12 weeks except allowing abortions for rape and incest up to 20 weeks. It also allows abortion for “life limiting anomalies” up to 24 weeks. The 46-page document defines chemical and surgical abortion, as well as giving a thorough list of complications from such medical interference.
The Bill maintains the 72-hour waiting period, expands informed consent standards for women, ensuring that attestations are signed and understood, and it gives women the right to sue under the laws of the State if she feels she has been coerced or misled prior to obtaining an abortion.
For those seeking chemical abortion, they must be examined in person by a physician to check gestational age and risk of ectopic pregnancy. It specifies that chemical abortions are limited to 70 days (10 weeks) or less, gestational age as per the current FDA recommendations.
In addition, the Care for Women, Children, and Families Act contains conscience protections for those whose conscience will not allow them to participate in the killing of unborn children.