Senate Dems Block GOP Bill That Would Curb Late Abortions
Source: Associated Press
Sep 22, 11:58 AM EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate Democrats blocked Republican legislation Tuesday that would prohibit most late-term abortions, the second time since this summer's release of videos involving Planned Parenthood that they've derailed an abortion-related drive by the GOP.
Senators voted 54-42 to move ahead on the legislation, but that fell six short of the 60 votes needed to advance the bill. With Republicans holding 54 Senate seats and the two parties sharply divided over abortion, the outcome was no surprise. But the showdown afforded each side an opportunity to highlight its willingness to fight to its most loyal voters and contributors.
Tuesday's vote came less than 48 hours before a first-ever papal address to Congress. Pope Francis leads a Catholic church that rejects abortion. The vote also came with the fight over Planned Parenthood and abortion enmeshed in an approaching deadline for avoiding a government shutdown and presidential politics.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., described the human features visible in fetal sonograms and said scientists say that fetuses can feel pain 20 weeks into development - an assertion that Democrats and many doctors contest.
Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CONGRESS_ABORTION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-09-22-11-58-23
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