11/17/11: Abortion Bill Fails in Senate

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To the surprise of many, an attempt by Senate Democrats to fast-track a funding bill laden with pro-abortion provisions ran into an immovable procedural wall — erected by a group of pro-life senators.

Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid attempted to move to the Senate floor a so-called “mini-bus” — a measure combining three different appropriations bills. It contained seven different provisions objected to by National Right to Life.

The bill would have removed an existing ban on government funding of abortion in the District of Columbia, and removed a longstanding ban on coverage of abortion in federal employees’ health plans. The bill also contained a provision that would have prevented any future president from curbing funding of pro-abortion organizations overseas.