Democrats Reject Bill Banning Late-Term Sex Selective Abortions

SALEM, Ore., July 1 -- The Oregon House Republicans issued the following news release:

Prior to debate on HB 3391, which provides taxpayer funding for abortions and requires Oregon health insurance plans to offer coverage for pregnancy terminations, House Democrats today voted down a bill that would ban late-term sex selective abortions. HB 2588 was killed when a motion to withdraw the measure from committee was defeated on a party-line vote.

"There are wide range of views on abortion in Oregon, so I was hopeful that we could at least have a discussion about HB 2588 and our state's policy on late-term abortions based on the gender of a child," said Representative Sherrie Sprenger (R-Scio). "Oregon has arguably the most liberal abortion laws in the country. I am disappointed that our effort to add some common sense to our laws was rejected today."

Had HB 2588 passed, the bill would make it illegal to perform late-term abortions in Oregon if "undertaken solely because of the known or suspected sex of the unborn child." The bill was referred to the House Health Care Committee on January 9, 2017. Democrats refused to give the measure a hearing. At least seven other states already ban the practice.

The motion to withdraw HB 2588 from committee failed on a 22-34 vote.