The old adage that it’s not over until it’s over applies to a multi-provisional pro-life bill that now is in the North Carolina Senate. On Friday, Gov. Pat McCrory, who was not pleased with the Senate’s version (HB 695), issued a statement that he would sign the House version (SB 353) which the House approved 74-41 on Thursday. The House bill is scheduled to be heard in the Senate this week.
“The recent House version allows the medical professionals at the Department of Health and Human Services to write the rules which will ensure women’s safety,” McCrory wrote. The governor had previously made similar remarks to reporters.
That was an illusion to the difference in the two bills. The House version would require that abortion clinics meet requirements similar to but not identical to those required of ambulatory surgical centers.
The House bill would also
· Prohibit sex selection abortions, a prohibition which 76% of North Carolinians support. Six states have banned sex selection abortions
· Opt out of abortion in the federal insurance “exchange” (established by ObamaCare) and the city and county employee health plan except for the life of the mother and in cases of rape and incest.
· Require abortionists to be physically present when the woman receives the first of the two drugs that make up the RU486 chemical abortion technique
· Require information to be available to mothers who get a poor pre-natal diagnosis.
State Rep. Ruth Samuelson told fellow legislators that the last time abortion clinic standards were updated was in1 994. “This is really all about protecting the health and safety of women,” she said. “Problems do exist in some of our abortion clinics, and that’s what we’re trying to address.”
As NRL News noted last Friday, clinics in Durham and Charlotte were closed on orders of state health officials. Female legislators “said other clinics in recent years have had dirty, unsterilized equipment, dried blood on medical lamps and improperly used medicine,” according to USA Today.
“’We’ve looked at the documented complaints,’ said Rep. Sarah Stevens, R-Surry. ‘Don’t tell me this isn’t about health and safety. That is exactly what it’s about.’” (See “State health officials vow to closely monitor Charlotte abortion clinic which recently had its license suspended for the second time”)
Barbara Holt, President of North Carolina Right to Life, said, “The people of this state and the people of this country have been waiting years to see commonsense provisions passed.”
Chelsea Garcia is a political writer with a special interest in international relations and social issues. Events surrounding the war in Ukraine and the war in Israel are a major focus for political journalists. But as a former local reporter, she is also interested in national politics.
Chelsea Garcia studied media, communication and political science in Texas, USA, and learned the journalistic trade during an internship at a daily newspaper. In addition to her political writing, she is pursuing a master's degree in multimedia and writing at Texas.
