The Legislature: Abortion Enters the Fray

Abortion has officially emerged as an issue in the 2007 session, with legislation that aims to tighten the state's parental notification law.

Senate Bill 544 debuted this week with the bipartisan backing of half that chamber's members. As The Associated Press' Tom Breen reports, those co-sponsors include Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin, D-Logan, and the chairmen of both committees assigned to review the bill.

With its quick passage in the Senate assured, Breen looks ahead to its fortunes in the House of Delegates. Speaker Rick Thompson, D-Wayne, is considered anti-abortion. Judiciary Chairwoman Carrie Webster, whose committee will receive the bill, is not.

But that dynamic is not new for the House. It echoes the respective stances of former Speaker Bob Kiss and Jon Amores, his Judiciary chair.

Webster, D-Kanawha, earned praise from both parties for last week's handling of the table games bill, and tells AP she will give the approaching measure due consideration.