In an historic legislative session, the Republican controlled State House and Senate passed a record number of pro-life laws:
The Unborn Victims of Violence Act/Ethen's Law, H215, mirrors the federal law so that the unborn child is recognized a second victim when a crime is committed.
The Authorize Various Special Plates, H289, includes the Choose Life Plate. The bill requires that the words North Carolina which appear at the bottom of the plate and the background for the numbers will have to be reflective white. The new law requires that in 2015, the full color plate becomes a "First in Flight" plate with a logo to the left representing the special plate. Of course, prior to 2015, the legislature can amend the law to allow the full color plates to continue.
- Using the budget as its vehicle, the legislature repealed the Abortion Fund which had been amended in 1995 limiting abortion coverage to $50,000 for the reasons of life of the mother, rape, and incest. Since the funds have not been used since 1995, the legislature eliminated the provision entirely. Secondly, the legislature included a provision in the budget that states: "No state funds may be used for the performance of abortions or to support the administration of any governmental health plan or government-offered insurance policy offering abortion, except that this prohibition shall not apply where (i) the life of the mother would be endangered if the unborn child were carried to term or (ii) the pregnancy is the result of a rape or incest. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit medical care provided after a spontaneous miscarriage." Finally, the legislature included a provision in the budget that de-funds Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood has filed a lawsuit against the state to restore these funds. (See the news story about the suit which includes a quote by Barbara Holt:click here.) The Budget was vetoed by the Governor but overridden by the legislature with 5 House Democrats joining Republicans in the House and Senate voting for the override. The 5 House Democrats are Reps. William Brisson, Jim Crawford, Dewey Hill, Bill Owens, and Tim Spear.
- The Abortion-Woman's Right to Know Act, H854, is the most recently passed law; it was the top priority for North Carolina Right to Life. The Abortion-Woman's Right to Know Act, H854, passed the NC House June 8, 71-48, and the NC Senate on June 15, by a vote of 29-20, one vote short of the necessary votes to override the expected Governor's veto. On June 27, Governor Beverly Perdue vetoed the bill. (Click here for WRAL article on the veto; click here for another article with audio of Ruth Samuelson on the veto.) Following Perdue's veto and during the special session on redistricting, both the chambers took up the veto override. On July 26, the NC House overrode the Governor's veto, 72-47, with all Republicans and 4 Democrats voting for the bill, Reps. William Brisson, Jim Crawford, Dewey Hill, and Tim Spear. Two days later on July 28, the NC Senate voted in favor of the bill, 29-19, with Republican Senators Stan Bingham and Richard Stevens absent. (Senator Stan Bingham explains not voting on the override of Governor's veto of the Abortion-Woman's Right to Know.) The bill became law by the exact number of votes needed to override the Governor's veto of the bill.
ACTION NEEDED:
Please thank your representative and senator if he or she voted for anyone of these bills. They need to be acknowledged for their support. We especially want you to thank them for supporting the Woman's Right to Know.
Also, put in your application to get a Choose Life Special Plate for your car and help support the agencies that help mothers who are choosing life for their unborn children. To get an application for the plate, click here.
