North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue (D) vetoed the Woman’s Right to Know bill, requiring women to undergo counseling and a 24-hour waiting period before having abortions. The first-term Democrat called the bill an attempted “intervention” by government in the relationship between women and their doctors. “I find it repugnant to women and men and families; it’s just wrong,” Perdue told the Greensboro News-Record.
Under the Woman’s Right to Know bill, a patient wanting an abortion would have to get an ultrasound and receive state-sanctioned reading materials in addition to waiting a full day. Opponents called the requirements emotionally manipulative and argued they would place an unfair burden on women, especially those living far from abortion providers.
The debate may not be over, however, since the bill only needs one additional vote in each chamber to override Perdue’s veto.
Media Resources: Media Resources: Greensboro News-Record 6/28/11; News & Observer 6/28/11; Testimony of Amy Brant, MD 5/4/11
