Governor Pat McCrory said that he will veto a bill that places stricter regulations on clinics providing abortions unless state lawmakers make significant changes to the bill. McCrory's office released a statement this morning saying “major portions of the bill are of sound value,” however he would block the measure unless the legislature amends it to include provisions his administration outlined yesterday.
Since McCrory’s statement, the News and Observer has reported that lawmakers have inserted abortion language into a motorcycle safety bill without public notice. The new language does not require clinics that provide abortions to meet standards for ambulatory surgery centers, and it calls for a physician to be present during only the first drug dose of a chemical abortion rather than all doses in the procedure.
House Republicans say it addresses the governor's concerns about the first bill.
The office of Attorney General Roy Cooper released a statement opposing the bill, saying it “would force clinics to meet unnecessarily high licensing requirements and make it more difficult for doctors to perform the abortion procedures. “
Planned Parenthood also released a statement condemning the unannounced move. “It is a disgrace to North Carolina that legislators have again resorted to sneak attacks to move their anti-women’s health agenda forward,” said Melissa Reed, Vice President of Public Affairs.
McCrory's office has not yet responded to the change after releasing the statement this morning.
State Health and Human Services Secretary Aldona Wos told lawmakers yesterday she's worried about language that directs the clinics to meet the same standards as ambulatory surgery centers. McCrory said earlier this week he wanted the state to protect women's health without restricting access to abortion procedures.
