North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory said Friday he planned to sign into law the state's newest abortion restrictions—breaking his 2012 campaign promise to not sign any further restrictions on abortion into law.
The abortion legislation gained national attention after the Republican-led legislature inserted anti-abortion language into a bill about motorcycle safety, and passed it through the state House earlier this month. The bill passed the state Senate late Thursday night.
The bill places new requirements on women’s health clinics that could close all but one facility in the state, and also prohibits government-administered insurance plans (including the Affordable Care Act) to pay for abortions. The bill also requires a doctor to be present when a patient is administered abortion-inducing drugs.
In a statement Friday, NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina accused McCrory of turning his back on the people who elected him. "He is sending a very public message that he can't be trusted to stick to his word," said executive director Suzanne Buckley.
A recent PPP poll showed McCrory's approval ratings dropping after the state legislature's handling of the controversial bill.