Republicans unveil new abortion restrictions in North Carolina

North Carolina Republicans unveiled a proposal that would ban abortion in the state after 12 weeks of pregnancy.

State Senate leader Phil Berger (R) announced in a statement Tuesday that House and Senate Republicans in the General Assembly have come to an agreement on restrictions that would ban most abortions at 12 weeks.

The bill would allow exceptions for rape and incest through 20 weeks and would allow exceptions for fetal life-limiting anomalies through 24 weeks. There would also be an exception to save the life of the mother, according to the bill.

The bill also includes criminal provisions in connection to abortion and child care, including making a $250,000 fine for physicians who do not care for a child if they are born alive after an attempted abortion procedure. Those who illegally provide abortion drugs to women or who advertise abortion medication to women will also be fined $5,000, according to the bill.

“The ‘Care for Women, Children, and Families Act’ is reasonable, commonsense legislation that will protect more lives than at any point in the last 50 years,” state Sen. Joyce Krawiec (R) said in a statement. “We are beginning the process of creating a culture that values life, and that’s something we can all be incredibly proud of.”

Democrats and advocacy groups have blasted the state Republicans’ proposal, calling it overly restrictive. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) said he opposed the bill, describing it as an “overreach” into people’s lives.

“This proposal erodes even further the freedom of women and their doctors to make deeply personal health care decisions. I along with most North Carolinians are alarmed by the overreach of Republican politicians into people’s personal lives and I strongly oppose it,” he said in a statement.

On Wednesday, Cooper vowed to veto the bill if it passes the legislature. However, the Republicans now have a veto-proof supermajority after a Democrat last month opted to switch parties. 

“Don’t let this so called 12 week abortion ban fool you,” Cooper said in a statement. “It will effectively ban access to reproductive freedom earlier and sometimes altogether for many women because of new restrictions and requirements. This is why Republicans are ramming it through with no chance to amend. I will veto this extreme ban and need everyone’s help to hold it.”

Other groups have also signaled their opposition to the bill, with the ACLU of North Carolina saying, “Any ban on abortion is unacceptable,” in a statement. The group also noted an abortion ban is “deeply unpopular” in North Carolina.

“Don’t be fooled. This bill is neither moderate nor a compromise. The majority of North Carolinians do not support further restrictions on abortion access,” North Carolina ACLU Senior Policy Counsel Liz Barber said. “Lawmakers are ignoring the democratic process in order to push through unpopular legislation against the will of the people.”

Updated at 2:58 p.m.