
A Republican-dominated Virginia Senate committee has rejected legislation that would have made pre-abortion ultrasound exams optional, not mandatory.
The hastily-convened Privileges and Elections Committee special meeting lasted only minutes as Sen. Ralph Northam's (D) bill failed 6-3 in a party-line vote. Committee chairman Sen. Steve Martin ® abruptly called a vote, stifling efforts to testify by Northam, who is a doctor, and at least one other physician.
Martin ruled that Northam's bill was so similar to his previous attempts to reverse last year's ultrasound law that any distinction was irrelevant. Northam called the meeting "a kangaroo court" and stormed from the room. He and Martin are both lieutenant governor candidates.

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