'When you let right-wing politicians into the exam room': NC GOP set to pass 12-week abortion ban

05 May 2023

North Carolina Republicans are preparing to pass a 12-week abortion ban despite Democratic Governor Roy Cooper's promise to veto the bill, Rolling Stone reports.

Per CNN, the governor "previously said he plans to veto the 'extreme' legislation, but if all members vote along party lines, the state's GOP lawmakers have enough votes in both chambers to override any veto from Cooper."

State Rep. Tricia Cotham, who according to Rolling Stone was "elected as a pro-choice Democrat in a district that Biden won by 23 points," voted "yes" on the ban Thursday evening.

Cotham switched to the Republican Party last month, which hiked GOP power within the state legislature.

Rolling Stone reports:

The legislation passed on Thursday would increase the burden on individuals seeking a medication abortion by requiring them to attend at least three in-person visits with a medical provider, each 72 hours apart: a counseling session, the appointment to receive medication, and a follow-up. (North Carolina's mandatory waiting period, 72 hours, is among the longest in the country.) North Carolina's new restrictions on medication abortion come as the federal government moves to relax rules around medication abortion, declaring the drugs safe enough to be dispensed by a pharmacist with no medical appointment at all.

During a Thursday evening interview with CNN host Wolf Blitzer, Cooper said, "A number of" the GOPers "promised their constituents that they would protect women's reproductive rights. We want to hold them to these promises."

He emphasized, "This is the kind of thing that happens when you let right-wing politicians into the exam room with women and their doctors," noting, "We're going to work the next few days to make sure that we have a Republican that will stand up and vote."

Regarding the restrictive law's future impact, CNN reports:

Senate Bill 20, dubbed the 'Care for Women, Children and Families Act,' would ban any licensed physician from performing surgical abortions after the 12th week of pregnancy. It would provide exceptions in the case of rape and incest through 20 weeks of pregnancy or in the event of a 'life-limiting anomaly' through 24 weeks. Under the bill, the procedure could be performed by a physician if a doctor determines an abortion is necessary to avert death – 'not including psychological or emotional conditions.'

In response to the potential passing of the bill, United Stated Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC) tweeted earlier this week, "Nearly a year after the Dobbs decision, NC Republicans have announced a deal on an extreme abortion ban. I fear for our sisters & daughters, who have had to fight for access to abortion care every single day since the Dobbs decision. And I am scared for women across the South."

The Democratic lawmaker also shared a statement describing the bill as "extreme and out of touch with the needs of women and the will of the people."

Currently, according to Rolling Stone, the state's abortion law says "pregnancies may be terminated through the 20th week of pregnancy in North Carolina, with some exceptions after that point — a policy that made the state one of few remaining refuges for women seeking care in the region."

Additionally, a 2022 Society for Family Planning report submits the southern state had the highest increase in abortions following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Rolling Stone's full report is available at this link (subscription required). CNN's report is here.

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