FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 29, 2014
Contact: Mallory Quigley: 703-380-6674
SBA List Urges WV Sen. Joe Manchin to Become First Democratic Cosponsor of Federal Bill
Washington, D.C – Last night West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin vetoed the state’s Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. The legislation passed the Democratic-controlled state senate by a vote of 29 to 5 with the support of 19 Democrats, and the Democratic-controlled state house by a vote of 79 to 17 with the support of 33 Democrats. The modest legislation would protect unborn children beginning at 20 weeks – more than halfway through pregnancy. Similar laws have been passed in 13 states, and a federal version has been approved by the U.S. House and has more than 40 cosponsors in the U.S. Senate.
“Last night, missing the tragic irony of his actions, Governor Tomblin said, ‘I believe there is no greater gift of love than the gift of life.’ This high profile hypocrisy is producing justified outrage in West Virginia and across the nation. Shame on Governor Tomblin for turning his back on unborn children and women by vetoing a compassionate, common sense limit passed with overwhelming bipartisan support,” said SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser.
“Now is the time for clarity on the part of West Virginia’s U.S. Senator Joe Manchin. We implore Senator Joe Manchin to embrace his pro-life position and become the first Democratic senator to cosponsor the federal Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. Senator Manchin has the opportunity to represent West Virginia and lead the nation where Governor Tomblin has so shamefully failed.”
“The Governor has placed himself in a minority position on this bill,” said West Virginians for Life (WVFL) President Wanda Franz, Ph.D. Franz noted that according to a February/March 2013 The Polling Company, Inc. poll, only 12% of the American public believe abortion should be allowed for any reason throughout all nine months of pregnancy.
Scientific evidence shows that unborn babies are capable of feeling pain by 20 weeks of life. Last year national polling by Quinnipiac, National Journal, Huffington Post, NBC/Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post/ABC News all found that a plurality or majority of Americans support limiting abortion after 20 weeks gestation and that women support the measure in higher proportions than men.
The Susan B. Anthony List is dedicated to pursuing policies and electing candidates who will reduce and ultimately end abortion. To that end, the SBA List emphasizes the education, promotion, mobilization, and election of pro-life women. The SBA List is a network of more than 365,000 pro-life Americans nationwide.
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SBA Pro-Life America's mission is to end abortion by electing national leaders and advocating for laws that save lives, with a special calling to promote pro-life women leaders. Your secure gift today will help to advance a culture of life and protect unborn children and their mothers from abortion.
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