Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
North Carolina Republicans Fail To Override Governor's Veto Of 'Born Alive' Legislation
The Associated Press: North Carolina GOP Fails To Override 'Born Alive' Bill Veto
North Carolina Republicans failed on Wednesday to override Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of legislation that would have created a new crime against doctors and nurses who fail to care for an infant delivered during an unsuccessful abortion. Enough Democrats sided with Cooper to block the override, which required 72 votes of support. The vote was 67-53 in favor of the override. The Senate had voted to override in April. (Robertson, 6/5)
The New York Times: North Carolina Legislature Fails To Overturn Governor’s Veto Of Anti-Abortion Bill
Doctors are already held to a 2002 federal law that protects fetuses that survive abortions. In a statement on Wednesday, Mr. Cooper reiterated his position that the bill, the so-called Born-Alive Survivors Protection Act, was redundant. “It’s important to protect the lives of all children, and laws already exist to protect newborn babies,” Mr. Cooper said. “Instead of passing unnecessary legislation for political purposes, we need to move on from divisive social issues and focus on the needs of North Carolina families: education, health care and good-paying jobs.” (Fausset, 6/5)
KCUR: Planned Parenthood Lawyers: Missouri Officials Are Not Following Licensing Procedures
Lawyers for Missouri’s only abortion provider told a St. Louis Circuit Court judge on Wednesday that it has been unable to renew the clinic’s annual license because state health officials have not followed proper procedures. Planned Parenthood has asked Judge Michael Stelzer to issue a temporary injunction barring the state Department of Health and Senior Services from delaying or denying a renewed license to Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region. (Fentem, 6/5)
The Associated Press: Wisconsin Legislature Sends Abortion Bills To Governor
Wisconsin's Republican-controlled Senate on Wednesday sent four abortion bills to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who has promised to veto all of them. One measure addresses the extremely rare occurrence in which a baby is born alive during an abortion attempt. It would impose criminal penalties on doctors who fail to give medical care to such babies. Organizations representing obstetricians and gynecologists, along with Democratic opponents, say existing laws already provide protections to every healthy newborn, whether born during a failed abortion or under other circumstances. (Bauer and Richmond, 6/5)
The Associated Press: AMC To Rethink Georgia Filming If Abortion Law Takes Effect
The network behind a show that's become part of Georgia's pop-culture fiber says it will "reevaluate" its activity in the state if a new abortion law goes into effect. "The Walking Dead" is an economic powerhouse and brings streams of tourists to the Georgia towns where it has been filmed. AMC Networks calls the abortion legislation "highly restrictive" and says in a statement it will be closely watching what's likely to be "a long and complicated fight" over the law. (Martin, 6/5)
NPR: Early Abortion Bans: Which States Have Passed Them?
This year has brought an unprecedented wave of new state laws that only allow abortions to be performed early in pregnancy — if at all. Most of the new laws — known as early abortion bans — explicitly outlaw abortion when performed after a certain point early in the pregnancy. The laws vary, with some forbidding abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, and some after eight weeks. Alabama's law is the most extreme: It aims to outlaw abortion at any point, except if the woman's health is at serious risk. (Gordon and Hurt, 6/5)
