Anti-abortion bills face Dem opposition

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Abortion rights supporters in the U.S. Senate say they will work to block any legislation that would further restrict federal funds to pay for abortions.

House Republicans began committee work this week on two bills that would add restrictions on taxpayer dollars going toward abortions and further reduce access to abortions, The New York Times reported Wednesday. Additional legislation to eliminate federal dollars to women's healthcare clinics offering abortions is expected to be introduced later, the newspaper said.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., told a news conference she thinks Democrats will have the necessary votes to block the legislation if it arrives in the Senate, Politico reported.

She was joined by Sens. Al Franken of Minnesota, Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, Kirstin Gillibrand of New York, Patty Murray of Washington and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut.

Boxer said the House legislation goes "so far over the line on this one that if a woman comes in distressed into an emergency room, she just might be left to die under provisions in these bills."

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., described the abortion measures as "obviously very important in terms of the priorities we set out initially in our pledge to America," the Times reported.

Rep. Joe Pitts, R-Pa., the author of one bill, said as a result of the November election the "House is more pro-life than it's ever been."