CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin vetoed a bill Wednesday evening that would make a procedure known as dismemberment abortion illegal in West Virginia.
In his veto message, Tomblin said the bill is “overbroad and unduly burdens a woman’s fundamental right to privacy.”
MORE Read Tomblin’s veto message here
The bill would ban the procedure, also referred to as dilation and evacuation, or D&E, except in cases where the procedure is necessary in the event of “serious health risk” to the mother. The D&E abortion method is commonly used in the second trimester.
The House of Delegates previously passed the bill 86-13, while the Senate passed it passed it 24-9.
Opponents of the bill, similar to the governor, believe banning the procedure flies in the face of women’s health rights, while those who support it maintain that the procedure is a particularly violent means of abortion.
WV Free, a pro-choice group, applauded the governor’s decision in a statement.
“(The Bill) would have taken away a woman’s ability to make an extremely personal reproductive health care decision,” said Executive Director Margaret Chapman Pomponio. “These decisions should be made by a woman in consultation with her provider, not by legislators. Politicians shouldn’t play doctor. We are heartened by Governor Tomblin’s decision to place his trust in the women of West Virginia and the health care community.”
WV GOP Chairman Conrad Lucas condemned both the dismemberment procedure and the governor’s decision.
The session ends Saturday night at midnight, which should allow enough time for the legislature to vote to override.