A Republican lawmaker in North Carolina pushing a bill that would lengthen the abortion waiting period in the state denied on Wednesday that her bill would restrict women’s access to abortions, but also noted that the legislation would lead to fewer abortions.
The bill sponsored by state Rep. Pat McElraft (R) would lengthen the state’s waiting period for abortions to 72 hours from the current 24, and would prohibit doctors at some state-funded public colleges from performing elected abortions.
“We are multi-taskers here in the General Assembly,” McElcraft told local station WRAL, when asked why she was pushing the bill instead of focusing on economic issues facing the state. “I am absolutely an advocate for jobs, but we can do lots of the things. And actually, when we can have a few more little taxpayers born, why not?”
She told WRAL that waiting periods have reduced the number of abortions performed, and that a lengthened waiting period could lower the number further.
But as the Huffington Post noted, McElcraft also denied that the bill was meant to restrict abortion.
“There’s no effort here to try to restrict a woman’s right to have an abortion,” she told WRAL. “What we’re trying to do is make her care competent.”
McElcraft also said that the bill was meant to keep taxpayer funds from paying for abortions.
“We do not want state funds being used for abortions,” she said. “Our constituents have made that loud and clear from all over the state of North Carolina.”
