GOP dominated Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee seems in favor of a bill that better informs women considering abortions.
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GOP dominated Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee seems in favor of a bill that better informs women considering abortions.

Date: February 15, 2010
By: Melissa Berman
State Capitol Bureau
Links: SB 793

Intro:  A bill to require pregnant Missourians to wait a day between viewing an ultrasound and having an abortion touched off debate Monday in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
RunTime:  0:44
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap:  Amy Knudsen had an abortion at age 14.

She says if she had looked at her ultrasound she wouldn't have gone through with it.

Actuality:  KNUDSEN.WAV
Run Time:  00:10
Description: "I would have seen a baby no doubt about it. I would have had a head, torso, arms, legs and there's absolutely no way I could have gone through with that abortion if I had seen my baby."

Knudsen says having time to reflect on the results of an ultrasound would cut down on abortions.  

A Planned Parenthood spokeswoman says the abortion rights group opposes the bill, saying time won't change the woman's decision.

The bill would give women 24 hours to think through having an abortion after they look at an ultrasound and listen to the fetus' heartbeat.

The Republican dominated committee did not vote on the bill.

From the state Capitol, I'm Melissa Berman.

Intro:  Women who had abortions told a senate committee looking at an ultra sound would have changed their decision, but abortions rights activists say time won't change anything.
RunTime:  0:37
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The bill would require women viewing an ultrasound to wait 24 hours before having an abortion.

But Planned Parenthood spokeswoman Michelle Trupiano says women's minds are already made up.

Actuality:  TRUPIANO.WAV
Run Time:  00:07
Description: "Women who are coming in the day of the procedure, even the 24 hour period before they've made up their mind. Nothing is going to change their mind."

Trupiano says most women don't want to see an ultrasound the day they come in for an abortion.  

However one woman who had an abortion told the committee she wouldn't have gone through with it if she had seen the ultrasound.  

The GOP dominated committee did not vote on the bill.  

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Melissa Berman.