A vote could come as early as Feb. 15, when Wake commissioners will consider a proposal to cancel coverage of abortions not deemed medically necessary to preserve the life of a mother, Wake County Commissioner Tony Gurley said Monday.

The agenda item comes weeks after the town of Apex voted to make the same change in its policy. Gurley said he looked into the issue after Apex Mayor Keith Weatherly gave him a "heads up" on the topic.

After conferring with county lawyers, Gurley said commissioners have no choice but to change the policy. "It's certainly a moral issue for me," he said. "But this particular agenda item is not."

Eliminating medically unnecessary abortions from Wake health insurance, he said, would protect the county from lawsuits and would also mirror federal policy.

Commissioner Stan Norwalk of Cary said he opposed a policy change, calling the discussion "political football."

Legal analysts from the American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood of North Carolina say governments have a choice.

After Apex's decision, the two groups analyzed city and county insurance rights in the state. They said that state statutes allow local governments to provide whatever benefits package is deemed appropriate without specific restriction on abortion coverage, a finding both Gurley and Weatherly dispute.

"Our county and municipal employees work really hard and deserve comprehensive health coverage," said Melissa Reed, vice president for public policy for Planned Parenthood Health Systems. "I don't believe elected officials should be picking and choosing based on their political agendas what that coverage includes."

Weatherly introduced the idea to Apex officials at a town council meeting last month.

He expounded Monday on the town's decision. "The issue is the protection of the unborn," he said.

The town's policy changes went into effect last week.

Pro-choice advocates used the decision to raise questions about Weatherly's relationship with state Rep. Paul Stam, an Apex Republican and the House's minority leader.

Stam is a lawyer who has represented pro-life causes for decades.

Weatherly, Stam's legislative assistant, said he did not speak to Stam about the topic until after he planned to address it in Apex Town Council.

"I operate independently when it comes to Apex issues," Weatherly said.

The change was initially couched as one that would protect the taxpayer.

"I don't believe that taxpayers intend to fund elective abortions," Weatherly said recently.

Eleanor Green, Apex's human resources director, said the town has spent around $5,500 on three elective abortions in six years.

She said the cost of a single delivery for a child was about $5,000.

Removing the procedure from the policy will not impact premiums, she added.

Council reflects

Councilman Bill Jensen, a self-described fiscal conservative and social liberal, says he favors a woman's right to choose.

He joined council colleagues in voting to eliminate town employees' coverage of elective abortions.

"I don't want people to have their taxes pay for something they don't like," he said. "At the same time, I'm not happy with the fact that I was somewhat blindsided because of the way it came up."

Weatherly added the issue to the agenda at the Town Council's Jan. 19 meeting.

Jensen said he wasn't aware that the issue might be raised at that meeting.

"Had I had more time to think about it, I might have voted differently," he said.

Weatherly said Monday that he made sure to preface the agenda item before going forward. "I asked if anyone was uncomfortable," he said. "My intention was to broach it, and I didn't know if they would want to proceed.

"I was pleased that he [Jensen] and the rest of the council voted for the change," Weatherly added. "... There was more than one opportunity for council members to speak up if they had an issue."

Other council members stood behind the unanimous decision.

Mayor pro-tem Bryan Gossage said it was the right decision for Apex to match a federal policy that prohibits the use of tax dollars to pay for federal employees' abortions, except in the case of rape or incest, or if the mother's life is endangered.

"Taxpayers are well-served to have [abortions] covered when they are deemed medically necessary by a physician," Gossage said. "But I felt that we were representing our constituents by not continuing to fund the elective procedures."

Councilman Mike Jones said his vote was one based on the morality of abortion.

Councilman Gene Schulze agreed. "I'm in favor of the right to life, and this was a chance to do what I believe is right," Schulze said.

Councilman Lance Olive said it was hard to deny that morality often plays a role in decisions on such a controversial topic as abortion.

But he said his decision was made out of a belief that it was the "right thing to do at that time."

"Everyone on the council seemed to be of like mind," Olive said. "So it wasn't a particularly difficult decision for me."

Weatherly said he expected other municipalities to bring up the topic, though he declined to say which ones.

"In other towns, I think it will be an issue," he said.