HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES - 2022/06/25: Abortion rights advocate Cate Tershak (left) speaks with anti-abortion demonstrators Elizabeth McNulty (center) and Mary Krolicki (right), both from Students for Life of America, as they hold a ra HARRISBURG, Pa. - Republican state senators outvoted impassioned Democratic opposition late Thursday to advance a proposal to add language to the Pennsylvania Constitution stating explicitly that the document does not guarantee any rights relating to abortion or public funding of abortions.The chamber's Rules Committee teed up the package of proposed amendments that would also require voters to show ID at polling places and have gubernatorial candidates choose their own running mates.
A vote of the full Senate could occur Friday.The Democratic floor leader, Sen. Jay Costa of Allegheny County, said he saw the abortion bill as "designed to prevent abortions in this commonwealth" while the sponsor, Republican Sen.
Judy Ward of Blair, said it would simply give the Legislature power to determine abortion law.The proposal was tacked onto a package of constitutional amendments in a bill the state House approved in December.
Other amendments would let lawmakers disapprove regulations without facing a governor’s veto and have the General Assembly set up a system for the auditor general to conduct election audits.RELATED HEADLINES"Our Abortion Control Act will still remain in place," said Ward, an abortion rights opponent. "And this constitutional amendment will just go to the people and it allows us in the Legislature the ability to set these rules and laws concerning abortion in this commonwealth."Sen.