Ultrasound Bill for Abortion Seekers Passes Senate Committee

A bill requiring women getting an abortion to undergo an ultrasound and listen to a description of the fetus passed its first committee hurdle in the Senate Monday.

The bill received opposition from just one Republican, Sen. Jack Latvala of Clearwater, who said he couldn't support what he said was the government's intrusion into health care decisions.

"Iconsider myself to be pro-life. The first two abortion bills that came to this committee, I voted for them. I think this bill is more than those bills," Latvala said, referring to bills that would outlaw public funds for abortion procedures. "Ibasically believe in the philosophy that goverment needs to stay out of decisions like this," he added.

Senate Bill 1744 has one more committee stop before heading to the floor. A similar bill, HB 1127, is on track in the House, having passed its first committee panel.