The state House today overrode Gov. Bev Perdue’s veto of a bill requiring women seeking abortions to wait 24 hours, receive counseling and be shown an ultrasound of her fetus.
The override came by a one-vote margin, with Rep. James Crawford, a Democrat representing Vance and Granville counties, changing his mind and casting the deciding vote. The House needed 72 votes to override.
Crawford said afterward that he changed his vote but not his mind on the issue, explaining that he was opposed to abortion but voted against the bill last time out of a sense of obligation to fellow Democrats.
“I tried to support my party but my heart wasn’t in it, and I felt like this was the right way to go,” Crawford said.
Rep. Ruth Samuelson, a Mecklenburg County Republican who was the primary sponsor of the bill, said she learned last night that Crawford was willing to change his vote. She said she called him to confirm, and then let House Speaker Thom Tillis know.
Tillis has said the House will bring any vetoed bill up for an override vote if Republicans have enough votes.
Samuelson said she has also learned that the Senate has enough votes to finalize the override. The Senate was also one vote short when it approved the bill.
Comments
pro choice
August 3, 2011 - 1:02pm — RickyspeedCrawford was just drunk as usual.
pro choice
August 3, 2011 - 1:01pm — RickyspeedWe have to somehow exclude old, gray headed , impotent and sterile republican wingnuts out of conversations about womens health needs of which they have no physiological experience. This includes both female and male republicans.
pro choice
August 3, 2011 - 12:52pm — RickyspeedYou must be speaking from experience about your mistakes.
pro choice
August 3, 2011 - 12:59pm — RickyspeedDon't merge God into your idiotic premise, afterall, you're not God even if you are a backwards thinking republican and feel prophetic.
NC Shameful over-reach of the law
July 26, 2011 - 8:50pm — lrlrlrWhat's next? Better ask all women to register their periods so you can even check for a fetus if they are late.
NC says women are not smart enough to make their own decisions without our help and advice.
How much is this costing tax payers?
Embarassing!
Freedom Of Choice
July 26, 2011 - 8:24pm — CandymintsI myself see nothing wrong with a woman deciding what to do with her body. I'm not against abortion at all. There are so many times that birth control fails and woman that take birth control and get pregnant on it its there right to take this pill or decide to have an abortion. What about woman that are raped? Someone getting molested? If they chose to take this pill by all means they have the right. I will never look at abortions or the abortion pill as murder, what ever you decide to do with your body is your choice and your's only.
Thank the GOP for their rape victim's tax
July 26, 2011 - 7:56pm — RonBSince the Republicans claim every mandatory fee is a tax, the GOP just broke their 'no new taxes' pledge with the mandatory multiple visits (before and after 24 hour waiting period) and sonogram. Is Grover going to run a slate of candidates against those who want to delay *and* put even more out of reach a procedure that rape victims deserve? Of course not -- everyone in the Greatly Outoftouch Pary is too busy out-hypocriting themselves.
The health care industry pumped large sums of money to the Republican party to fight health care reform, and this bill is their way of saying thanks and to increase the size of government to manage the mandatory waiting period *and* forced sonograms.
Is anyone going to watch for an envelope passing hands the next time Ruth goes to Waffle House with her new bestest friend? Of course not, because as the N&O and UNC "honor" court have shown, you never find wrongdoing when you don't look for it. Untrackable cash buys a lot of silence.
Yeeeeee Haaa!
July 26, 2011 - 7:38pm — AgentPierceRobert Duval may love "the smell of napalm in the morning" .... Me, I love the shrill sound of a liberal loon shrieking about abortion.
A liberal loon shrieking about anything on their lengthy litany of conservative-bred atrocities is sweet; but "abortion" for all its gordian knot of imponderables may be the sweetest shriek of all. ..... Yeeeeeee Ha!
Short message to conservatives:
July 26, 2011 - 6:27pm — ignc73Practice what you preach and MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!
The conservatives Big Government movement
July 26, 2011 - 6:26pm — ignc73For all of the gnashing of teeth over the Heath Care Reform Bill, none of the proposals of even the original plan were anywhere near as intrusive as this. This is disgusting. This is solid proof that conservatives want to shove government into the doctor's office. If we're going to go down this road as a people, we really need to start forcing these rednecks to get sterilized.
Wire coathanger stocks rise
July 26, 2011 - 5:16pm — whollarGreat political assault upon women. The GOP is more wise than the OB/GYN and the woman.
That is, unless the woman can pay for it. If she has the money, then she is can be considered "GOP educated". Does the bill provide for a diploma?? How about a t-shirt?
If the woman can't afford it, then she (we) will raise her undesired child. No depression possible there.
The GOP knows that women have limited intellect and judgement; after all, some women actually mate with them.
Its also ironic..
July 26, 2011 - 4:53pm — arthurb3Its also ironic that those who are against abortion have no problem not helping these mothers raise these kids. You are against abortion but also against public assistance so these kids will be raised poor, malnurished, and without any financial help!
Its also ironic..
July 26, 2011 - 4:53pm — arthurb3Its also ironic that those who are against abortion have no problem not helping these mothers raise these kids. You are against abortion but also against public assistance so these kids will be raised poor, malnurished, and without any financial help!
Isn't it ironic?
July 26, 2011 - 4:29pm — TheLibertineI find it ironic that those who are most forcefully in support of abortion don't have to deal with the consequences of being aborted -- I guess it's lucky for them that their mothers and fathers made a different choice.
No one is judging...just protecting.
July 26, 2011 - 4:08pm — youngcynIt's not just about religion. It's about psychology. Look at the statistics about the psychological harm that may come to women who abort their children. Massive depression, especially after the first living baby is born. Then, they realize the impact of an earlier decision that may have been made of out of desperation, hurt, anger...
It's not just about protecting the unborn; it's about protecting the mother too. Everyone, in the end, really wants to do the right thing. The right thing is that which causes harm to no one. NC is helping everyone today.
Will you religious wingnuts just STOP
July 26, 2011 - 4:02pm — annetteingarnerPlease respect freedoms of our citizens and rights of our citizens, including women. We are not some third world nation where women have no rights. Don't distort the facts. All that's going to happen now is these poor women who are already in a difficult place will need to be exposed to your religious freaks shoving your religious garb down their throats against their wish and torturing them about mostly likely doing the right thing. Yes, the right thing. Stop JUDGING. Open your mind. Get a book. A real book. Try to learn new things. Don't just insist on remaining ignorant because of your religion and don't use your religion to hurt and damage other innocent people. I swear you people are just wacked.
Well Done!
July 26, 2011 - 3:57pm — Jeff_morseThe Voters have been Heard. A Thank you goes out to Every NC House / NC Senate Member that voted for the Override. This couldn't of been done with out Democratic support for the Over Ride!
Pack your Bag Gov Bev.....
Well Done!
July 26, 2011 - 3:57pm — Jeff_morseThe Voters have been Heard. A Thank you goes out to Every NC House / NC Senate Member that voted for the Override. This couldn't of been done with out Democratic support for the Over Ride!
Pack your Bag Gov Bev.....
Well Done!
July 26, 2011 - 3:57pm — Jeff_morseThe Voters have been Heard. A Thank you goes out to Every NC House / NC Senate Member that voted for the Override. This couldn't of been done with out Democratic support for the Over Ride!
Pack your Bag Gov Bev.....
Praise God!
July 26, 2011 - 3:33pm — dave3660% of the NC House voted today for a very moderate reform, which doesn't prohibit any abortions at all, but will nevertheless prevent several thousand needless tragedies every year, simply by informing women about all their options, the medical facts, and their legal rights.
A big thank you to Rep. Crawford and the other 71 Members of the NC House, who stood up to the big money interests of the abortion industry, and took a stand for NC's babies and mothers.
The abortion industry lobbied ruthlessly against this reform, telling an imaginative variety of lies, because it will cut into their gruesome business. The opponents to this bill are not pro-choice, they are pro-abortion. I thank God that they lost today.
the more information, the better
July 26, 2011 - 3:21pm — TeabirdDemeaning,
The purpose of the bill is to give adequate information to girls at a difficult time. Some girls never knew there were support services, that there were risks involved in the operation, that their baby had developed into a human form, and they deeply regret the decision to abort. It's time that we *all* take life seriously, and respect the gift of life we were given.
Slaughter of the Innocents
July 26, 2011 - 3:03pm — lrollinsI guess we're more concerned about privacy than we are about at least asking the potential murderer to reconsider. Good job, Crawford - you showed some intregrity. Now if we can just find some people concerned about keeping our elections honest.
Rep. Crawford did the right thing!
July 26, 2011 - 3:53pm — youngcynRep. Crawford represented the people of his district today. He was contacted by over 700 people who expressed their sincere wish that Gov. Perdue's veto be overturned. He did the right thing...he voted as many of the people of his district asked him to. It's not about following party lines, it's not about personal opinion...it's about representing the wishes of his constituency. That's what he did...
Don't let the strong opinions of a few blur the opinions of most. We all need to do the right thing in the end... and Rep. Crawford did! Thanks Congressman Crawford!
Abortion Bill Override
July 26, 2011 - 2:52pm — kmparkerWay to go GOP! We might actually save a few babies!
'bout time
July 26, 2011 - 2:47pm — ForRPGood job. Veto my a*s! Good to see the GOP doing what they were elected to do. Now for the voter ID. Good job GOP. Keep it up.
That sound you hear ....
July 26, 2011 - 2:39pm — AgentPierceThe sounds you hear are Rob Christensen and Steve Ford's panties wadding up. No doubt they'll spew their self-righteous wrath on us in a day or so. Spew Rob&Steve spew ..... :-)
Demeaning
July 26, 2011 - 2:30pm — Agent_PokeDemeaning and intrusive to women. Disgusting, really.
Please, nobody say the bit about protecting the health of the woman. That's already covered. It's transparent, that the purpose is to intimidate women in a difficult time.
GOP Thugs
July 26, 2011 - 2:29pm — keihinGOP thugs are forcing their agenda on the women of our State. There already exist many options for counseling and support during this most difficult decision.
quid pro quo?
July 26, 2011 - 2:18pm — PlainAndSimple"she learned last night that Crawford was willing to change his vote. She said she called him to confirm,"
maybe should read, "called him to provide privilege to be named later"?
GOP Agenda???
July 26, 2011 - 2:16pm — postI thought the GOP ran on JOBS, JOBS JOBS. So far they have told us who we can marry, how we must vote, when we can vote, where we can vote, next thing will be closing DMV to prevent State Issued photo ID to vote with.