• U.S. Government
• • Congress
  • Federal Courts
• State Governments

Pro-choice scores for 2012 are based on the following votes.

Senate Votes

1. Birth-Control Refusal Law. Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, S.1813. Motion to table the Blunt (R-MO) amendment to allow any employer to refuse to cover contraception or any health service required under the health reform law for virtually any reason. Passed 51-48. A pro-choice vote (Y) was in support of the motion to table (3/1/12).

House Votes

1. Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act (PreNDA). H.R.3541. Final passage. Franks (R-AZ) bill to criminalize a doctor for failing to determine if the sex of the pregnancy is a factor in a woman's abortion decision. Failed 168-246 under suspension of the rules. A two-thirds majority of those present and voting is required to pass a bill under suspension of the rules. (In this case, 286 votes were needed to pass the bill.) A pro-choice vote (+) was against the bill (5/31/12).
   
   
2. D.C. 20-Week Abortion Ban. District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, H.R.3803. Final passage. Franks (R-AZ) bill to ban abortion after 20 weeks in Washington, D.C., with no exception to protect a woman's health, or in cases of rape, incest, or fetal anomaly. The bill threatens physicians with a two-year prison sentence if they violate the ban and overrides District home rule. Failed 154-220 under suspension of the rules. A two-thirds majority of those present and voting is required to pass a bill under suspension of the rules. (In this case, 289 votes were needed to pass the bill.) A prochoice vote (+) was against the bill (7/31/12).