(Reuters) – The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed legislation that would ban late-term abortions, a move that could alienate women from the conservative party.
The bill, which would exempt women who are victims of rape or incest as long as they first report the crime to authorities, has no chance of becoming law with Democrats controlling the Senate and the White House threatening to veto it.
Still, passage of the bill highlighted the influence of ultra-conservative House Republicans, who have forced the chamber to adopt more conservative measures.
The bill would ban abortions after 20 weeks after fertilization, a time when an unborn child begins to feel pain, Republicans said. The legislation passed in 228-196 vote with a few Republicans dissenting and little Democratic support.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/18/us-usa-congress-abortion-idUSBRE95H1GU20130618
The Secular Jurist 