July 26th, 2022 by WCBC Radio

As West Virginia's Republican supermajority continued advancing a sweeping abortion ban bill Tuesday, Democrats failed for the second time in two days to garner enough support to add exceptions for rape and incest victims. During an hourslong meeting Tuesday, House Judiciary Committee Republicans overwhelmingly rejected Democrat's amendment for a rape and incest exception, sending the abortion ban to the full House of Delegates. A similar proposal failed Monday in the House Health and Human Resources Committee.

“Men perpetrating such horrific acts makes me unsettled at times,” said Republican Del. Pat McGeehan, who noted he has a daughter. He voted against the exception. “It’s very disturbing and these are contentious questions we have to deal with. However, when we confront such evil, we cannot participate in evil itself.”

McGeehan said by creating exceptions, even for rape and incest, lawmakers would be sending the message that “the value of life is not unconditional.”