ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 28, 1996 TAG: 9603280059
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: Associated Press
Courting a veto by President Clinton, the Republican-controlled Congress passed legislation Wednesday night to ban certain late-term abortions.
The measure would ban the rarely-used technique - termed ``partial birth abortion'' by its opponents - except when it is essential to save the mother's life.
The vote in the House was 286-129, more than enough to override a threatened veto. Senate approval last year was by a narrower 54-44 vote, not enough to override a veto.
All Virginia Republicans voted for the bill, along with Democrats James Moran of Alexandria; L.F. Payne of Nelson County and Norman Sisisky of Petersburg. The other Virginia Democrats voted against it.
Passage came after emotionally charged debate, and support crossed party lines.
The procedure is an ``offense to the conscience of mankind. This is something we need to stop now,'' said Rep. Charles Canady, R-Fla., a leading supporter of the legislation.
The procedure, a variation of more traditional abortions, is referred to by some doctors as ``intact dilation and evacuation.'' It involves partially extracting a fetus, legs first, through the birth canal, then collapsing its skull and suctioning out the skull contents.
The bill confronts Clinton with an election-year dilemma. Given the gruesome nature of the procedure involved - which lawmakers described in graphic detail during debate - Republicans believe there is widespread public support for the bill. On the other hand, abortion rights groups whose support is important to the Democratic president oppose the bill as an infringement on a woman's right to choose, and are eager for the veto.
``We urge President Clinton to veto this legislation and preserve the ability of women and their physicians to make sound medical judgments free of political interference,'' Jane Johnson, interim president of Planned Parenthood, said in a statement shortly before the final vote.
The vote also demonstrated anew the strength of anti-abortion forces in the Republican-controlled Congress. It was the first time since abortion was legalized more than two decades ago that Congress sought to ban a particular method of the operation.
Rep. Tony Beilenson, D-Calif., argued the bill is merely the first step in an attempt to overturn the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court ruling that granted women abortion rights.
He also called it an assault ``on the right of physicians to practice medicine without fear of government intrusion.'' He and several other lawmakers called for an exemption from the ban to take into account the mother's health, as well as her life.
The vote capped an emotional struggle that consumed several months as the bill moved from the House to the Senate and back again.
White House officials have previously threatened a veto, and spokesman Michael McCurry said during the day there had been no change in the president's position.
LENGTH: Medium: 62 linesby CNB