CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – A party calls Monday’s decision to push the House Health Committee bill that calls for a total ban on abortion “an unprecedented attack,” while the other part says it’s “an exciting day”. ”

The West Virginia House Health Committee voted 16 to 6 to push its abortion clarification bill to the Judiciary Committee for further debate.

The bill calls for a total ban on abortion while banning doctors from performing abortions and giving abortive drugs. He says he will not punish the mother.

Advocates on both sides have had opposing reactions to the proposed bill as well as Governor Jim Justice’s call to add abortion to the special session at the 11th hour.

“This is an unprecedented attack that happened behind closed doors and without notice to the public or stakeholders who want to protect the reproductive health of West Virginia,” said Margaret Chapman Pomponio, editor. by WV Free.

“I think this is an exciting day for the people of West Virginia,” said Karen Cross, political director of National Right to Life. “We are family-oriented and protect both women and their babies.”

The only exceptions in the bill are for fetal anomalies, ectopic pregnancies and medical emergencies. No exceptions for rape, incest or mental health of the patient.

All Democratic amendments to loosen abortion restrictions were defeated and the bill is now referred to the Judiciary Committee. After that, he will be sent upstairs to the House floor for debate.

There will also be a joint Health-Judiciary Committee public hearing on this bill on Wednesday, July 27 at 9 a.m. at the Capitol.

“We call on the public to let their legislator and their governor know that this will not hold. And we don’t want to go back to the 19th century and that’s exactly what this legislative body is trying to do,” Pomponio said.