The North Carolina General Assembly overrode a veto from Governor Roy Cooper Tuesday night, deciding along party lines to make a bill limiting most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy law. It’s the latest measure passed in the U.S. following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 and it reduces North Carolina’s prior limit from 20 weeks of pregnancy.
While the bill had many other aspects, the abortion component was the most controversial — partially because of Republican lawmakers in the House and Senate working to put it together behind closed doors before fast-tracking the bill through each chamber. Abortion rights supporters have criticized the measure since its unveiling, pointing to vague language and the lack of input from medical professionals. Local women’s health doctors said the limit at 12 weeks — and additional limits on abortions stemming from rape or incest — will threaten pregnant people’s health if issues arise after the time period.
The state government’s veto override drew reactions from a variety of statewide and federal officials, with Cooper and Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein sharing critical statements on social media. Republican lawmakers Tim Moore and Phil Berger, as well as Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, all shared statements celebrating the achievement for anti-abortionists.
Gov. Cooper Statement on Republican vote to override SB20 veto: pic.twitter.com/Kh06weg4zQ
— Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) May 17, 2023
This bill is about controlling women and taking away their freedoms. And they are not done yet. They will keep coming until they completely ban abortion in every instance. We can’t let them. 1/2
— Josh Stein (@JoshStein_) May 17, 2023
“Today the North Carolina House of Representatives has affirmed the value of human life, and I am proud that the ‘Care for Women, Children, and Families Act’ is now law.” #ncpol #ncga https://t.co/f3UdJE3ekc pic.twitter.com/phSceBujYf
— Speaker Tim Moore (@NCHouseSpeaker) May 17, 2023
Lieutenant Governor Robinson’s statement on the override veto vote of the “Care for Women, Children, and Families Act.” #ncpol pic.twitter.com/Fw5ZLd1krQ
— Mark Robinson (@markrobinsonNC) May 17, 2023
Being the latest state to enact new abortion restrictions, North Carolina caught much national attention Tuesday as well. Members of the Biden administration shared statements in the wake of the vote.
The Republican-controlled legislature in North Carolina has overridden Governor Cooper’s veto of a dangerous abortion ban that will harm patients. @POTUS and I stand with the vast majority of North Carolinians who oppose restrictions on reproductive health care.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) May 17, 2023
White House @PressSec out with a statement on NC’s veto override of a bill that bans most abortions after 12 weeks. #ncpol #ncga pic.twitter.com/tw5UpK3AFq
— Danielle Battaglia (@dani__battaglia) May 17, 2023
In Orange, Durham and Chatham counties, local elected officials shared their thoughts Tuesday night on the changes to abortion access. Across all levels, the response was predominantly critical.
House Minority Leader Rep. Robert Reives, who represents Chatham County, as well as Orange County Sen. Graig Meyer, shared thoughts on Twitter. Reives indicated concern about further abortion restrictions being passed over time, while Meyer urged voters to gear up for the 2024 state election cycle. State Senator Natalie Murdock, who represents Chatham and Durham counties, also indicated her wish to break Republicans’ supermajority in the state legislature.
Tonight, North Carolina Republicans voted to strip women of the right to make decisions about their own bodies. Make no mistake: They will not stop here. #ncpol #ncga
— Leader Reives (@LeaderReives) May 17, 2023
Let us be clear after the Republicans enact this ban on abortion in NC.
When Democrats win back the NCGA, we will reverse this hateful, harmful law.
Yes, elections matter. And there’s another one next year. ✊🏻— Sen. Graig Meyer (@GraigMeyer) May 17, 2023
Heartbroken, sad, devastated – feeling all of that.
It’s now crystal clear that we have to fight tooth and nail to get our state back. These super majorities MUST be broken! #NCAbortionBan pic.twitter.com/t1MtYgmt33
— Senator Natalie Murdock (@NatalieforNC) May 17, 2023
U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee, who represents Orange and Durham Counties in Congress, shared a thread on Twitter also criticizing the approach of limiting reproductive rights.
Today, North Carolina Republicans made the decision to politically interfere with a woman’s right to bodily autonomy and erode our reproductive rights that generations of women before us fought for adamantly. (1/3)
— Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (@ValerieFoushee) May 17, 2023
North Carolinians deserve better. I am deeply disturbed and outraged by this decision and will continue to fight to protect this fundamental freedom on the federal level, codify Roe, and ensure that abortion services are safe, legal, and accessible for all. (3/3)
— Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (@ValerieFoushee) May 17, 2023
On a more local government level, elected officials from Carrboro, Hillsborough and Durham each shared their issues with the updated law. The town council of Carrboro demonstrated its own commitment to reproductive health care, passing a resolution supporting abortion access and denouncing Senate Bill 20.
“The Town Council urges Carrboro’s delegation in the General Assembly to prioritize the health care needs of all residents, to reject further attempts to restrict access to abortion, and to increase investment in access to health care, affordable birth control including emergency contraception, and comprehensive age-appropriate sex education,” the resolution says.
Today was a bad day for Democracy, women, girls, folks who can get pregnant and all of those who will be impacted by the lack of transparency, good faith and public input as Republicans pass their agenda of Hate.
We will remember at the polls. #abortionban #ncpol
— Eliazar Posada (@EliazarPosada) May 17, 2023
Abortion is healthcare.
Abortion bans = bad for women, bad for the ability of families to thrive & bad for business. Give to @CarolinaAbtnFnd tonight bc people in & traveling to NC still need abortion care, & to @PPSATNC to keep organizing for abortion rights in the South.— Jennifer (Jenn) Weaver (@Jenn_E_Weaver) May 17, 2023
Sad state of affairs from the supposedly "pro-life" party that took 10+ yrs to pass Medicaid expansion, won't pay teachers what they deserve or fully fund education, won't help solve our affordable housing crisis, won't take action to prevent children dying by gun violence.
— Matt Hughes 🇺🇲🏳️🌈 (@matthughesnc) May 17, 2023
The average person does’t find out they are pregnant till further in. Anyone who tells you SB20 is about saving lives is lying, it’s about control.
— Nida Allam (@NidaAllam) May 17, 2023
Photo via Travis Long/News & Observer.
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I saw Coop’s cameo video feed on Joy Reed’s TV show. He really let his low IQ show when he got all wound up in an apoplectic tirade and virtue signaling fest with Aunt Joy. One nugget out of his pie hole was revealing about his and his supporters’ intellectual horsepower; quoting to best of memory: “. . .we can’t let politicians come into the exam room with women and their doctors.” Why the hell not, Coops? They’re already in the exam room with everybody else (including, but not limited to minor children with putative gender ID issues). Why should “birthing people” be exempt from the presence of a politician in their exam room?