Abortion

West Virginia Governor Vetoes 20-Week Abortion Ban

West Virginia’s Democratic Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin on Tuesday vetoed a bill that would have outlawed abortion after 20 weeks' gestation.

West Virginia’s Democratic Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin on Tuesday vetoed a bill that would have outlawed abortion after 20 weeks gestation. Shutterstock

West Virginia’s Democratic Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin on Tuesday vetoed a bill that would have outlawed abortion after 20 weeks’ gestation. The bill, HB 2568, was passed yesterday by the GOP-dominated state senate and sent to the governor’s desk for approval.

Tomblin vetoed a similar 20-week ban during the 2014 legislative session, saying in a statement at the time that the bill was both unconstitutional and “problematic because it unduly restricts the physician-patient relationship.”

“All patients, particularly expectant mothers, require the best, most unfettered medical judgment and advice from their physicians regarding treatment options,” he said.

This year, Tomblin’s statement regarding his veto was toned down, even going so far as to suggest he would be open to other anti-choice measures pushed by Republicans in the state house and senate.

“I believe there is no greater gift of love than the gift of life,” he said, adding that he has to “take into consideration a number of factors when reviewing legislation, including its constitutionality.”

“At the start of the regular session, I urged members of the Legislature to consider a compromise that would help us establish legislation that would pass constitutional muster.”

The 20-week mark is four weeks before a fetus is widely recognized as “viable,” the standard under which access to abortion is legal in the United States.

West Virgina lawmakers this session will also consider bills that would outlaw the use of public funds for abortion services.