With a special legislative session underway, Huntington Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Steve Williams addressed lawmakers on Monday Petition to introduce an abortion ballot measure to the list of issues that the legislature will address.
The petition has 2,505 signatures and calls on Gov. Jim Justice to do so Including reproductive rights in the special legislative agenda so that the Republican-led Legislature could agree to place a constitutional amendment to “restore reproductive freedom” on the ballot for West Virginia voters to decide.
The Governor sets the agenda for bills during special sessions of the Legislature. Justice on Friday has issued a special notice of meeting with 15 budget laws. Most proposals redirect funds to program and budget lines that were either cut or eliminated in the “tight budget” passed by lawmakers in March. Reproductive rights were not on the list for the special judicial session.
According to the state constitution The legislature could suggest and act on resolutions in both chambers during regular and special sessions.
Williams delivered the petition to Del. Sean Hornbuckle, whose district includes Huntington and is the Democratic minority leader in the House of Representatives. Hornbuckle will ensure the petition is presented to the House of Representatives, he said.
Hornbuckle said Democrats and other West Virginians believe reproductive freedom is wanted. Democrats will try to raise the issue again during the special session.
During the regular legislative session earlier this year, Del. Rep. Kayla Young, D-Kanawha, and seven Democratic colleagues introduced legislation that would include a ballot measure that would allow voters to decide whether a person has the right to “make and carry out their own reproductive decisions.” ” including decisions related to contraception, fertility treatment, miscarriage care and abortion. The legislation had no effect.
“We simply believe that now is the time to let the people of West Virginia decide whether women should have reproductive health care freedom,” Hornbuckle said.
If the resolution were to be introduced, an uphill battle would lie ahead. Since 2015, Republicans have had the majority in the West Virginia House of Representatives and Senate. After the US Supreme Court ruled on Roe v The state legislature has passed a ban on abortion with few exceptions.
In 2018, West Virginians narrowly passed a measure that added an anti-abortion amendment to the state constitution. Republican voter registrations in the state are up 27% in the last eight years.
Speaking to reporters Monday morning, Williams acknowledged that the petition was unlikely to result in abortion being legalized in the state, but also said it was making a statement.
“The fact is, we know this issue was on the ballot a few years ago, but there is a significant population in our state – 52% of all voters in West Virginia are women, and everywhere I go, women say “We want our rights restored,” Williams said.
“Whether it’s by putting it on the agenda, one way or another, freedom is going to be on the ballot, whether it’s through a constitutional amendment or where every person who runs for a seat in the legislature or for the office of the Governor’s application must do this. “Speak to these women voters and say: Yes, we support restoring your reproductive rights, or we will find that you are not worthy of due consideration,” he said.
