NC Senate schedules vote to override Cooper veto of abortion bill
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The North Carolina State Senate announced it will schedule a vote Tuesday to override Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of Senate Bill 20, a bill that limits abortions and bans most of them after 12 weeks of pregnancy.
"We will have Senate Bill 20 on the calendar tomorrow for the override vote," Senate Leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, said Monday.
Cooper, a Democrat, vetoed the legislation on Saturday after a week of touring the state speaking out against the measure.
The GOP has control of the General Assembly but has little wiggle room.
"If just one Republican in either the House or the Senate keeps a campaign promise to protect women's reproductive health, we can stop this ban," Cooper told a crowd of supporters Saturday.
WATCH: Cooper vetoes GOP abortion bill
"In just two weeks, extreme anti-abortion politicians have rammed through a dangerous, monstrous abortion ban that will have a profound impact on reproductive health care across the board," said Jenny Black, President & CEO of Planned Parenthood South Atlantic. "Thousands of people in Raleigh turned out over the weekend to oppose this abortion ban in addition to the many health care providers, faith leaders, and business leaders who have spoken against this shameful piece of legislation. Legislators know this monster abortion ban is deeply unpopular across this state - that is precisely why they are rushing this process without public input. Lawmakers are betraying their constituents and knowingly putting North Carolinians in danger."
The bill does have exceptions to the 12-week ban and extends the limit through 20 weeks for rape and incest and through 24 weeks for "life-limiting" fetal anomalies.
WATCH | Some worry bill could affect other healthcare services
On Saturday, Berger said he looked forward to "promptly overriding" Cooper's veto.
Below: Read the bill for yourself
Opponents continued efforts Monday to derail the override effort.
Landy Elliott and Liz Morrell started the group Never and Now with two other moms in Durham.
The group has raised money and helped put pro-choice politicians in place. They said they are cautiously optimistic about flipping a moderate Republican.
"So when Roe fell, and we realized our kids were going to be the first generation to be stripped of an existing right, we said we have a new problem to solve," said Elliott, who has a 10-year-old daughter. "Seeing all of those people come out and say we're not going to stand for this and we're going to get involved...I know they're doing it now but it gives me hope for 2024."
Morrell, also a mother, has a 3-year-old daughter.
"We only need one senator, representative to not vote or flip their vote which is a little trickier than you might think," Morrell said. "To Landy's point, this will be the first generation of children who will have fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers."
Why Never and now?
"Never and now...never and now...because we're not going back and we must act now," Morrell said. "That's how we felt when Roe fell at that moment."
