West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin is “supportive” of a West Virginia bill banning abortions after 20 weeks and is considering backing a similar federal ban in the Senate.
“I am pro-life and supportive of the principles in the bill that was just passed in the West Virginia Legislature,” Manchin said in a statement.
The Democratic-controlled West Virginia legislature has sent a bill to the desk of Democratic Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of gestation, a notable moment for a movement led thus far by Republican-controlled states.
Passage of the bill in West Virginia prompted the anti-abortion Susan B. Anthony List to question Manchin’s position on both the state legislation and a federal bill written by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) that has attracted only Republican support thus far.
Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
