RALEIGH (AP) — A House committee has approved a potential fix for an abortion bill from the Senate to address the concerns of Gov. Pat McCrory about whether it would restrict women’s access to obtain the procedure.
The judiciary panel approved a substitute measure Wednesday on a party-line vote in favor of Republicans. Democrats voting no argued the changes would still result in abortion clinics closing and criticized the process that led to the committee vote with no advance notice.
McCrory threatened earlier Wednesday to veto the bill that passed the Senate last week if it reached his desk. His problems centered on requirements that clinics be regulated like outpatient surgery centers and doctors must be physically present for abortion procedures.
The bill’s next stop is the full House.