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In their words: What NC leaders want to see following US Supreme Court abortion ruling

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Friday that the federal constitution doesn't include a right to abortion. North Carolina lawmakers differ on whether more restrictions should be passed.

Posted Updated

By
Bryan Anderson
, WRAL state government reporter
RALEIGH, N.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday struck down abortion protections that have been in place for nearly 50 years. The move frees up states to impose additional restrictions or prohibit the medical procedure entirely.
In North Carolina, key policy makers and party leaders differ on how the state should proceed. Democrats largely want to ensure women can continue to have access to abortion. Republicans, meanwhile, are seeking to implement a ban on abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy. If they gain supermajorities this year, retake control of the state Supreme Court or win a 2024 gubernatorial election, additional restrictions could become more likely.

Both political sides hope the issue will encourage voters to show up to the polls in the upcoming November election.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross, 2nd Congressional District: “This is a sad day for women all across our country, but the most important thing that women in North Carolina should know is that abortion is still legal in our state. We have the right to abortion up to 20 weeks in North Carolina, and we have a governor who will protect that right.

“But the other thing that women of North Carolina need to know is that we have elections in November, and their rights are on the ballot. If our legislature can overturn a veto, then their rights will be gone in an instant. It is in our hands to protect our rights and the rights of our sisters and our daughters.”

Republican State House Speaker Tim Moore: “Today’s decision from the United States Supreme Court is long overdue and a major win for protecting life! The end of Roe v. Wade rightfully returns authority back to the states to determine abortion law.

“While I remain unequivocally pro-life, the short budget adjustment session does not afford us sufficient time to take up the issue. However, North Carolinians can rest assured that we are taking the necessary steps to ensure that current restrictions on the books will be enforced.

“North Carolinians can also expect pro-life protections to be a top priority of the legislature when we return to our normal legislative session in January."

Republican State Senate Leader Phil Berger: “The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs returns policy decisions regarding abortion to the states, which is where those decisions should be made. I remain committed to the right to life and protecting the unborn.

“North Carolina’s law banning abortions after 20 weeks is currently unenforceable. We will take immediate action to ensure North Carolina’s late-term abortion ban is reinstated. Senate Republicans will determine whether other steps are appropriate to strengthen our pro-life laws, but I do not anticipate legislative action prior to adjournment.”

Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper: “For 50 years, women have relied on their constitutional right to make their own medical decisions, but today that right has been tragically ripped away. That means it’s now up to the states to determine whether women get reproductive health care, and in North Carolina they still can.

“I will continue to trust women to make their own medical decisions as we fight to keep politicians out of the doctor’s exam room."

Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson: “I am overjoyed with the decision by our Supreme Court - for decades we have been praying for a day like today and it is finally here. I have experienced the pain of abortion in my own life and know the long-term effects it can have on families.

“That is a huge reason why I fight so hard for the life of the unborn. With this decision, our elected officials must act and protect our Justices from further attempts of intimidation and violence.

“This opinion gives control over abortion back to the states - where it rightfully belongs. However, here in North Carolina, this is cause for work, not celebration. Currently, in North Carolina, abortion is legal for any reason up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. This is unacceptable. With the Supreme Court’s decision to return authority over this issue to the states, it will now be our duty to carefully craft legislation that will safeguard the life and health of all our citizens, born and unborn.”

Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein: “I have a message for the women of North Carolina: You still have a legal right to an abortion in our state. North Carolina state law protects women's reproductive freedoms. This is true even after the Supreme Court today stripped women of their right to an abortion under the Constitution by overturning Roe v. Wade.

“If we want to keep our freedoms under state law, then we have to elect state officials who commit to protecting them.”

NC Republican Party Chairman Michael Whatley: “We will continue fighting from now through Election Day and beyond to ensure that we have pro-life majorities as we enter a post-Roe future.”
NC Democratic Party Chairwoman Bobbie Richardson: “Women have the right to make their own health care decisions without politicians getting in the way. This decision further emboldens Republicans to continue their harmful efforts to restrict reproductive rights, including U.S. Senate candidate Congressman Ted Budd who has made clear that he will ban abortion with no exceptions, not even for rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.

"In 2022, it is critical that we elect Democrats who will stand up for our constitutional rights and who will focus on fighting for what North Carolinians need and want – not the agenda of extreme Washington politicians and corporate special interests.”

Republican U.S. Senate candidate and U.S. Rep. Ted Budd: “Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court is a historic victory for the millions of Americans who believe that every life is precious and deserves protection. And it is a victory for the millions of unborn children who may now realize the most fundamental of all human rights, the right to life.

“The Court's ruling correctly empowers the people’s representatives in each state to decide how best to protect unborn lives. As a conscience-driven pro-life advocate, I will continue to support protections for unborn children everywhere."

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and former N.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley: “As a former Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, I want to be clear: Our Constitution grants Americans the right to make decisions about their health care free from government interference.

“Today, for the first time in our history, the Supreme Court took away an individual constitutional right. I join people across the country in anger and fear at this moment for what the Supreme Court’s decision will mean for women, American families, and health care providers.

“This wrong and dangerous decision that overturns nearly 50 years of precedent shows exactly what’s at stake in this election and I will not hesitate to stand up for Americans’ freedom to make our own decisions about our own families."

Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis: “This ruling is historic and monumental and affirms my belief that all life is sacred. Each state government and its duly elected representatives will now make the determination about the types of laws they wish to have in place.

"I, for one, will continue to advocate for commonsense measures that the broad majority of Americans support like protecting life at crucial points of development and prohibiting horrendous procedures like partial-birth and pain-capable abortions.

"This is a very emotional and sensitive issue for many Americans, and I urge calm and respect for the Court’s decision and hope people who have strong feelings on both sides will voice them peacefully.”

Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Burr: “Judicial independence is a fundamental principle essential to maintaining the integrity of the U.S. Supreme Court and the rule of law. Continued efforts to undermine Americans’ confidence in the Supreme Court and to influence the Court’s decisions through intimidation and bullying tactics are a threat to one of our most sacred American values.

“In its ruling today, the Court determined the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision lacked legitimate constitutional grounds and returned decision-making back to the people. This is a momentous day for all of us who believe in and have fought for the sanctity of life.

"Today’s decision is constitutionally consistent and morally right. In issuing it, undeterred by outside pressure, the Court has upheld its chief responsibility to interpret the law as it is, not as some might wish it to be.”

Democratic U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, 1st Congressional District: “Today is a sad day in American jurisprudence."
Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy, 3rd Congressional District: “Today is a momentous day for the pro-life movement. The Supreme Court, basing their decision on the 14th Amendment, has ruled that, ‘the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion.’

"Roe v. Wade was errantly constructed, both as an assault on the unalienable right to life, as well as a gross violation of the 14th Amendment – overriding states’ rights in the name of federal overreach. The Supreme Court’s ruling is constitutionally valid, as the decision on abortion will now rightfully be returned to the American people and their elected representatives.”

Democratic U.S. Rep. David Price, 4th Congressional District: "Abortion, the right to choose, and the right to make your own healthcare decisions must be protected. The House already voted to codify Roe v. Wade. The Senate MUST act without delay. We will keep fighting to protect this fundamental right."
Republican U.S. Rep. David Rouzer, 7th Congressional District: "Every human life is sacred, and today’s historic ruling is right constitutionally, legally, and morally. Even the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg criticized Roe v. Wade for the shaky constitutional basis on which it was decided.

"It is the people’s moral obligation to fight for and protect the lives of those who cannot speak for themselves – the lives of those who are no different than our own. Today’s ruling is a significant win for life, and I will continue to support pro-life measures in Congress.”

Republican U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, 8th Congressional District: "Five decades of prayer have been answered, as this ruling is overdue news for life and the unborn. I am glad the Court decided to return power to where it belongs - voters in states and their elected representatives.

"More than 600,000 babies were murdered in the United States last year. Ending Roe v Wade’s unconstitutional and unscientific precedent - which mandated allowing abortion even beyond the time a baby has a heartbeat, feels pain, or sucks her thumb - will save innocent lives."

Democratic 13th Congressional District Candidate Wiley Nickel: “I’m angry. This decision to overturn decades of judicial precedent will strip away a woman’s right to privacy and to make her own healthcare decisions. The government has no business getting between a woman and her doctor in that decision-making process.

"The simplest way to erase this decision is to pass a bill through Congress codifying the protections of Roe v. Wade. When elected to Congress I’ll fight like hell to make sure every woman in North Carolina has the right to choose."

Republican 13th Congressional District Candidate Bo Hines: "Today’s ruling is monumental for the sanctity of life. With the overturning of Roe and Casey, America can once again claim to be a moral leader throughout the world. I will continue to be proudly pro-life and will fight for commonsense legislation that aligns with those beliefs."