Virginia Democrats defeat bills limiting abortion access

By SARAH RANKIN
Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A Democratic-led Virginia Senate panel has defeated several bills that would have restricted abortion access in the state. Among them was a measure that was a priority for Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. The Senate Committee on Education and Health voted the measures down without debate Thursday morning after a subcommittee had previously recommended that they be defeated. The votes were not a surprise. Democrats control the state Senate and have promised since Roe v. Wade was overturned last year to defeat any effort to curtail abortion access. That includes a push by Youngkin and Republican lawmakers for a 15-week ban with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother.