NEW MARTINSVILLE, WV – The Women’s Caucus of the West Virginia Mountain Party issued a blistering condemnation dated Feb. 13 following the state Senate’s passage of SB 173, a bill designed to prohibit the use of abortifacient medications. In a formal statement, the caucus, which is an affiliate of the Green Party of the United States, called the legislation a “dangerous escalation” of government intrusion into private medical care.

The caucus expressed particular outrage over the bill’s broad support, specifically highlighting the affirmative vote of Senator Mike Woelfel. As the Democratic Minority Leader and the chamber’s senior-most Democrat, Woelfel’s support for the bill was characterized by the Mountain Party as a betrayal of his responsibility to lead Democratic strategy and protect reproductive rights.

According to the press release, the impact of SB 173 extends far beyond elective abortion. The caucus noted that medications like mifepristone and misoprostol are essential components of the established standard of care for miscarriage management and treating ectopic pregnancies. They warned that by restricting access to these drugs, the state is creating a “chilling effect” that could lead to medical providers delaying or denying life-saving treatment to avoid legal liability.

The statement also drew attention to the geographic and economic disparities in West Virginia’s healthcare system. Pointing to counties like Pocahontas, where some residents reportedly must travel more than two hours for reproductive care, the Mountain Party argued that the ban would create a “two-tiered system.” In this scenario, wealthy individuals can seek care out of state, while low-income women face increased medical risks and “economic strain.”

The caucus further highlighted the trauma-informed nature of medication abortion for survivors of sexual violence, including minors. The press release argued that removing the least invasive option for early pregnancy termination compounds the harm already faced by survivors, potentially forcing them into more invasive surgical procedures or pregnancies carried against their will.

The Mountain Party caucus concluded by asserting that such “culture-war legislation” actively erodes protections for children and survivors rather than strengthening the state’s healthcare infrastructure.