WV Governor Vetoes Bill Banning Abortions At 20 Weeks

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

Source: WCHS

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin vetoed a controversial abortion bill on Friday.

Tomblin said his reason for vetoing House Bill 4588, which would have banned abortions at 20 weeks, was that it was unconstitutional.

"I believe there is no greater gift of love than the gift of life. I have stated this time and again, throughout my career, and it is reflected in my legislative voting record,” Tomblin said in a statement. “However, I have vetoed HB 4588 because I am advised, by not only attorneys from the Legislature, but through my own legal team, that this bill is unconstitutional.The bill is also 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. The medical community has made it clear to me that the criminal penalties this bill imposes will impede that advice, and those options, to the detriment of the health and safety of expectant mothers.”

Melissa Reed, vice president for public affairs with Planned Parenthood Health Systems, applauded the governor’s decision.

Read more: http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/eyewitness/140328_24308.shtml

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. Science and medicine prevail? In WV?

Wow.

[WinstonSmith4740]

2. Damn straight.

Just. Wow.

[Dawson Leery]

3. From a conservative Dem Governor too.

[alp227]

9. Well, WV is a sorta blue state. That's what keeps the crazy at bay.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_party_strength_in_West_Virginia#21st_century

West Virginia politics are a mixed bag:
- Voted for every Republican president since 2000 (for Bush twice, and Obama lost WV both times)
- Voted Democrats for governor every election since 2000
- Both US senators have been Democrats since 1959.

[Lasher]

10. There are different shades of blue.

Ours in West Virginia makes just as much sense to us as yours does to you in California.

That said, Tomblin deserves a lot of credit for this politically courageous move. But it just might end up costing him a second term, and this makes me a little more anxious about losing control of our state legislature this year. We have held the majority there since 1930 but we lost a lot of ground there two years ago.

[Control-Z]

4. Excellent!

K&R!

[theHandpuppet]

5. Kick & Rec

[3catwoman3]

6. Wow indeed.

Quite unexpected rationality. Let's hope it's contagious.

[SheilaT]

7. One tiny ray of reason in a gloom

of unreason.

[QuestForSense]

12. I really do agree.

[CFLDem]

8. Damn fugging straight. K&R

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

[leanforward]

11. And I thought he was a DINO (Democrat in name only).

Guys, we let the lady, girl, woman, daughter, sister chose. After the chemical spill it seemed they rolled over and ask King Coal to kick me again. And passed a do nothing no teeth piece of legislation.
My hat is off to him. Now, lets clean up the rivers and streams.