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U.S. NEWS A5
Wednesday 23 September

Senate blocks anti-abortion bill; new showdown set

Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., center, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washing- budget measure include
ton, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. Earlier, Senate Democrats blocked Republican legislation Tuesday language stripping tax-
that would prohibit most late-term abortions, the latest episode in a fight that has threatened payer funding for Planned
to cause a partial government shutdown. At the same time, the chamber’s GOP leader began Parenthood.
choreographing a series of votes designed to avert a federal closure. From left are, Sen. John Bar- Abortion foes say videos
rasso, R-Wyo., Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., Wicker, Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas, and show Planned Parenthood
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. has violated federal pro-
hibitions against profiting
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) from fetal tissue sales or
changing some abortion
procedures to maximize
the harvesting of fetus or-
gans.
Planned Parenthood says
it’s broken no laws and
says the videos were ma-
nipulated to distort the re-
corded conversations.
The Republican bill would
set criminal penalties of up
to five years in prison for
doctors who perform most
abortions 20 weeks or more
into pregnancy. The House
approved the legislation in
May.q

ANDREW TAYLOR cannot defund Planned
ALAN FRAM Parenthood right now,
Associated Press there is no point in calling
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen- them Republicans,” Louisi-
ate Democrats thwarted ana Gov. Bobby Jindal, a
an effort to ban late-term candidate for the Repub-
abortions on Tuesday lican presidential nomina-
as Republican leaders tion, tweeted last week.
strained to avoid a gov- President Barack Obama
ernment shutdown in eight and congressional Demo-
days over the dispute — all crats stand as the chief
against a tangled back- obstacles, with Democrats
drop of presidential politics. repeatedly blocking any
Up next, in the first of a legislation that undermines
series of choreographed abortion rights.
steps, Senate Majority On Tuesday, Senate Dem-
Leader Mitch McConnell, a ocrats blocked a Repub-
Republican, set up a show- lican measure to prohibit
down vote for Thursday on most late-term abortions.
stopgap legislation that The Senate voted 54-42 to
would keep the govern- move ahead on the legis-
ment operating through lation, but that fell six votes
Dec. 11. short of the 60 needed to
But it would also block crack a filibuster mostly led
women’s health care by Democrats.
provider Planned Parent- Tuesday’s vote was the
hood’s federal funds for a second time since this sum-
year, and Democrats are mer’s release of videos
expected to block that involving Planned Parent-
measure, too, setting up hood that Senate Demo-
subsequent votes on must- crats have derailed an
pass bills to keep the gov- abortion-related drive by
ernment open free of the the Republicans.
dispute over Planned Par-
enthood and abortion. It was held less than 48
Abortion politics is roiling hours before a first-ever pa-
Congress and the White pal address to Congress by
House campaign as well. Pope Francis, who leads a
A number of Republicans, Roman Catholic Church
outraged over Planned that rejects abortion.
Parenthood’s procurement Republican leaders in the
of fetal tissue for scientific House have staged sev-
research, are demanding eral votes on anti-abortion
definitive action from party legislation, but the moves
leaders. haven’t satisfied a handful
“If Senate Republicans of party hardliners who are
insisting that the must-pass