Teacher Planning, Abortion Ban Among W.Va. Vetoes

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin signed about 200 bills and vetoed eight this year, leaving teachers and abortion opponents unsatisfied.
 
Tomblin vetoed a bill to keep school administrators from scheduling tasks for teachers during planning periods. Tomblin said the bill would have blocked collaborative planning among teachers and principals.
 
Pro-life groups opposed Tomblin’s decision to veto a ban on abortions after 20 weeks gestation.

Tomblin said state lawyers worried the bill would be unconstitutional. It resembled a law struck down in Arizona that the U.S. Supreme Court later decided not to reconsider.
 
Tomblin said he would look at another abortion ban if he considered it constitutional.
 
He also nixed a proposal to let some state workers take paid leaves of absence to help during emergencies, citing liability concerns.