House rejects sex-selection abortion ban
Thursday, May 31, 2012
WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Republicans have voted against legislation to make it a federal crime to carry out gender-based abortions.
In a campaign year when Democrats are accusing Republicans of waging a war against women, Republicans sought to portray the Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act as a women's rights issue.
But the legislation required a two-thirds majority for passage, because of procedural rules, and had no future in the Democratic Senate.
The bill would have would make it a federal offense to perform or coerce a woman into a sex-selection abortion.
Opponents said it would subject doctors to criminal charges and discriminate against Asian-American women. Abortions of female fetuses are an issue in some Asian countries where families prefer sons.
