Tomblin vetoes 20-week abortion ban

[Lasher]

Last edited Fri Apr 4, 2014, 10:55 AM - Edit history (1)

Governor calls 20-week cutoff unconstitutional and detrimental

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin vetoed a bill late Friday that would have banned abortions of fetuses after 20 weeks gestation. The governor called the bill unconstitutional and a "detriment" to women's health.

The bill (HB4588) would have made it a felony, punishable by not less than a year in prison, to perform an abortion after 20 weeks' gestation, except in instances in which there are physical complications that place the woman at risk of death or serious irreversible physical impairment.

"I am advised, by not only attorneys from the Legislature, but through my own legal team that this bill is unconstitutional as shown by actions of the Supreme Court of the United States," Tomblin said in a written statement.

Arizona was among several states to pass similar laws, but a federal appeals court struck down the Arizona law last year, and the U.S. Supreme Court refused in January to hear the state's appeal.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:hx_8VZDq8ikJ:www.wvgazette.com/News/201403280175+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

Another big defeat for Americans United for Life (AUL). Like ALEC, they distort democracy by making it easier for elected officials to be influenced by interest groups instead of their constituents. Governor Tomblin deserves credit for doing the right thing by vetoing this travesty.

ETA Link to the Gazette page no longer working, so I changed the link to one that goes to a cached page.