Abortion, judiciary budget measures on West Virginia ballot

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Separate constitutional measures on West Virginia’s Nov. 6 ballot would allow lawmakers to restrict or ban tax-payer funded abortions and have some control over the state judiciary’s budget.

The Republican-led Legislature earlier this year approved a resolution to add a line to the state constitution that reads: “Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion.” Abortions in West Virginia would remain legal under federal law.

Opponents say it would put the issue in the hands of the Legislature, which could ban Medicaid-funded abortions in cases of rape, incest or when a woman or girl’s health is at risk.

In 1993, the state Supreme Court struck down a Medicaid funding ban for abortions as unconstitutional.

Read more: http://www.timesleaderonline.com/wire/?category=5020&ID=79137