House again puts off ultrasound vote

For the second day in a row, the House of Delegates on Tuesday delayed final votes on a number of issues, including a bill to require women to undergo an ultrasound prior to an abortion.

The chamber also punted on bills to repeal the state's one-handgun-a-month law, allow private adoption agencies to deny placement based on their beliefs, and allow people in their homes to use lethal force against aggressive intruders without facing criminal repercussions.

The postponements come as the Republican-led legislature swelters in the heat of the national spotlight, focused primarily on abortion issues.

"They are freaked out by the (ultrasound) bill and the reaction it's gotten across the country," said Del. Mark D. Sickles, D-Fairfax. "I think they're probably trying to figure out a media strategy to figure out a way to get off the front pages."

Del. C. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, said the House delayed the votes so that the bills could all be debated on the same day.

About 1,000 people rallied at the Capitol on Monday to oppose abortion-related measures, which have been the focus of multiple national news reports and a "Saturday Night Live" segment.

The pressure is unrelenting, with several groups advocating women's health today delivering petitions to the governor's office in opposition to the ultrasound legislation and a pending "personhood" bill, which would define life as beginning at conception. Another rally is scheduled Thursday at Capitol Square.

The ultrasound legislation in particular faces fierce opposition because in many cases it would require that a probe be inserted vaginally. Supporters of the bill say that is already common practice, but opponents argue that mandating it infringes on a woman's rights.

Seven states mandate that an abortion provider perform an ultrasound on women seeking an abortion and require the provider to offer the woman the opportunity to view the image.

Sickles said he had heard rumblings that "a large group" of Republicans had come to the conclusion that the bill was untenable and were looking for a way to avoid it requiring a vaginal probe.

Asked if Republicans were exploring altering the legislation, Del. David B. Albo, R-Fairfax, declined to comment.

Democrats attempted unsuccessfully to kill the measure — Senate Bill 484, sponsored by Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel, R-Fauquier — by offering a motion to pass it by indefinitely.

That motion failed 32-68, putting the bill back before the chamber for a vote today.

Democrats are expected to try to change the measure on the floor today so that the ultrasound would be an offer rather than a requirement.

If the bill passes the House, it would head to Gov. Bob McDonnell, who could sign it, veto it or offer amendments.

Del. Kathy J. Byron, R-Campbell, said Tuesday that the measure adds to the state's informed-consent law by providing the most accurate information possible to women planning to have an abortion.

"Most of the clinics are already doing this," she said of the ultrasound. "This just ensures that everyone has the information before they undergo it."

The measure doesn't specify what type of ultrasound would be performed, but often a transvaginal procedure must be used early in a pregnancy. The bill would require a medical professional to perform the ultrasound to determine gestational age.

The woman would be given the opportunity to see the image and receive a printed copy.

The House also pushed off action on several other Senate bills that will be the subject of debate on the floor despite the fact that the Senate has already approved the House's versions, guaranteeing their way to McDonnell's desk.

The House version of legislation to repeal the state's 18-year-old law limiting handgun purchases to one per month is already on McDonnell's desk, and he is expected to sign it this week.

The so-called "conscience clause" legislation, which would allow private adoption agencies to refuse child placement to prospective parents based on their beliefs, passed the Senate on Tuesday. A "castle doctrine" bill, which would allow home occupants to use lethal force against aggressive intruders without threat of criminal charges, passed Monday.

As to why the bills were delayed, Del. David J. Toscano, D-Charlottesville, the House minority leader, suggested that House Republicans had been taken aback by the level of attention the social issues were garnering and some of the information coming out as a result.

"I don't think their caucus is clear on what they want to do with a number of these bills," he said. "I think they're realizing that they're going too fast and not paying careful enough attention to the language of these things and finding out that there are unintended consequences."