Virginia Lawmakers Take On Abortion, Again

The abortion debate is about to heat up again in Virginia's General Assembly. 

In Richmond, 2012 was the year of the transvaginal ultrasound. Republican efforts to require the invasive procedure for women seeking an abortion attracted the attention of comedy writers and headline writers from across the country. The legislation passed, and now Alexandria Delegate Rob Krupicka, a democrat, is co-sponsoring legislation to repeal it.

"I think one of the messages we all got loud and clear from folks in our districts,  they were't happy about what happened last year and they want us to make every possible effort to get this off the books," Krupicka said. "People appropriately felt that the legislation passed last year violated women's basic health freedoms, and in a very invasive way." 

Many Democrats view the requirement as part of a right-wing war on women, but anti-abortion activists say they are the ones protecting women. 

"Everyone should be in agreement that a woman making a permanent decision for herself and her unborn child should have access to every bit of necessary, relevant and useful information," Olivia Gans Turner is president of the Virginia Society for Life.

If Democrats are unsuccessful with the effort to repeal the new abortion regulations, they're likely to raise the issue again later this year when every seat in the House of Delegates is up for election.