NC abortion ban bill will be ‘bad for business,’ say Triangle CEOs, company owners

Business leaders across the Triangle urged the General Assembly Monday to abandon its push to restrict abortion in North Carolina, predicting severe economic fallout and damage to the state’s progressive reputation.

Speaking in downtown Raleigh, several local CEOs described their fear that businesses will choose to locate in other states, and that festival organizers will cancel plans to hold large gatherings if the state follows its plan to ban abortion after 12 weeks.

“Employees want to work in states where they can make their own health care choices with their doctors,” said David Meeker, owner of Trophy Brewing. “So why would we want to make our state less attractive?”

The Republican-controlled General Assembly passed a bill earlier this month that would outlaw abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy, adding exceptions up to 20 weeks for rape and incest, up to 24 weeks for “life-limiting” fetal anomalies and indefinitely if doctor feels the mother’s life is endangered.

Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed that bill before a crowd of hundreds of pro-choice demonstrators Saturday, but Republicans hold a supermajority in both the House and Senate, and they have vowed to override the governor’s veto.

Reminders of HB2 fallout

Business owners cautioned against that move Monday, recalling the backlash triggered in 2016 by House Bill 2, the “bathroom bill” that, among other things, prohibited local governments from passing anti-discrimination ordinances, particularly in Charlotte, which had allowed people to use public restrooms based on their gender identity.

Widely viewed as discriminatory toward the transgender community, HB2 caused a slew of cancellations out of protest, including a Bruce Springsteen concert in Greensboro, then leading to relocated NCAA basketball championship games.

The state’s reputation will suffer if the abortion limits are passed, business leaders said Monday, and North Carolina will develop an image as a place that tolerates and encourages discrimination.

“Our state is a leader,” said Antonio McBroom, CEO of Primo Partners. “It’s a leader of our region. There’s a saying: ‘As North Carolina goes, so goes the South.’ ”

200+ NC business owners support veto

Ari Medoff, CEO of the health care management company Arosa, said his firm employs roughly 300 people, most of them women. Filling those jobs will get harder if the state takes away full access to reproductive health care.

“We have a massive massive labor force shortage that’s going to be exacerbated,” he said.

Ashley Christensen, the award-winning chef with a string of Raleigh restaurants, read an open letter to the General Assembly signed by more than 200 business owners statewide.

“Abortion bans are bad for business,” she said, likening the proposed law to the repealed bathroom bill. “HB2 cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars.”

Meeker added that larger companies statewide are keeping quiet out of fear of a “vindictive” Legislature, but that they are quietly offering support.

“North Carolina’s economy is getting rolling,” he said, adding, “Why screw it up?”