Senators Won't Abort Ultrasound Amendment

Despite a threat from House Democrats to not vote on any Senate legislation coming to the House today, senators are vowing to send to the House an amended health care bill, HB 1143, requiring women in their first trimester to submit to an ultrasound when seeking an abortion

"We're going to vote on this bill, and we're going to send it to them," said amendment sponsor Sen. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando.

The amendment requires women in their first trimester to have an ultrasound and requires that they look at the live images unless they sign a waiver or prove they are the victims of rape, incest or deomestic abuse. House Democrats have decided to block the bill unless the ultrasound amendment and an amendment forbidding the use of taxpayer money to pay for abortions are taken out.

Jacksonville Republican Sen. John Thrasher said that the Senate would push the bill through but the Senate might be working late as negotiations betwen the two chambers continue.

"This process always works out,"he said.