Statement from Minority Leader Stephen Baldwin (D-Greenbrier), on behalf of the minority caucus:
“When Roe v. Wade was overturned this summer, the issue of abortion was returned to the states. Here in West Virginia, that meant we reverted to a law originally adopted in the 1800s. That law bans all abortion, enacts criminal penalties for doctors and women, and conflicts with more recent legislation. It was enacted before West Virginia became a state and before women held the right to vote. It does not contain exceptions for rape, incest, or medical emergencies. It is unclear as to what extent a mother’s health can be taken into account. This law is unreasonable and needs to be repealed; it is cruel and it does not reflect our values. As Governor Justice and Attorney General Morrissey have called for, we expect a special session soon. Families living with pregnancies and their doctors deserve legal clarity in seeking and providing necessary healthcare without threat of imprisonment, intimidation, or penalty. While our opinions on this difficult issue certainly differ, we must be able to agree that a woman’s life, health, and well-being should be protected by the law.”
