Abortion in NC: Democrats propose putting Roe vs. Wade ruling into state law

Democrats proposed putting the right to abortion until viability into state law.

Ever since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade last summer and left abortion up to the states, it's been known that the issue was going to be hotly contested this session.

One of the first bills Democrats filed this year would write the Roe vs. Wade decision into state law.

The measure probably won’t see the light of day, but Democrats said it sends an important message.

House and Senate Democrats held a news conference Thursday morning to talk about the importance of access to abortion – a right Americans had for nearly 50 years until the Supreme Court threw it out.

House Democratic leader Robert Reives said the bill would add the rights granted in Roe vs. Wade into state law – a move he believes voters would support. However, Democrats are in the minority. And majority Republicans have already said they intend to pass new abortion restrictions narrower than the 20-week ban currently in state law.

"And now this fundamental freedom is in under threat across the nation, and unfortunately even here in our state," Reives said. "Over the last several weeks, it's become clear that Republican leadership is more than eager to drag us backwards."

GOP leaders aren’t giving any details yet, but Senate leader Phil Berger has suggested a ban after the first trimester, while House speaker Tim Moore suggested a six-week ban, also known as a heartbeat bill. We asked Moore whether the Democrats bill will get a hearing.

"It'll be assigned to a committee," Moore said. "And if majority of that committee wants to take it up, they will but I don't anticipate a majority would want to take that bill up.

Moore says he thinks some Democrats will vote for more restrictions on abortion and will help Republicans override a likely veto by Governor Roy Cooper. Reives doesn’t think so.

"I can only go by past performance," Reives said. "And past performance has been when there has been a veto, we’ve held the vetoes."

Republican leaders say they won't file their abortion bill until GOP House and Senate members reach an agreement on what new restrictions should be in it.

Those discussions are ongoing behind closed doors.