Could a 20-week abortion ban pass the General Assembly?

Last week Virginia lawmakers began hearing legislation that would impose a range of new abortion restriction in Virginia.

The bills would ban most abortions after 20 weeks, reimpose a 24-hour waiting period, and — in response to an infamous radio interview given by former Gov. Ralph Northam — create felony penalties for doctors who don’t take certain steps in rare cases in which abortions result in live births.

Democrats in the Virginia Senate, where the party still holds a 21-19 advantage, have promised to be a “brick wall” against such proposals from Republicans in the House of Delegates and Executive Mansion.

But in the case of abortion legislation, that wall would appear to have a Joe Morrissey-sized hole in it.

The Democratic senator from Richmond, who has long described himself as pro-life, not only says he would support a 20-week abortion ban, but that he is considering working with Republicans in the chamber to side-step the committee process that would otherwise let Democrats block the legislation from ever arriving on the floor of the chamber for an up or down vote.

Read more: https://www.virginiamercury.com/2022/02/07/could-a-20-week-abortion-ban-pass-the-general-assembly/