Florida Senate Rejects Ultrasound Requirement for Abortion

Tampa Tribune: Rejects Ultrasound Abortion Bill With Tie Vote, by Jerome Stockfisch:

TALLAHASSEE - The Florida Senate has rejected an effort to require women to have an ultrasound and view the image of the fetus before having an abortion.

The vote was 20-20 after an hour of emotional debate, meaning that unless a senator asks for the issue to be reconsidered, it is dead for this year's legislative session. The measure had passed out of the House.

The controversial abortion bill was a signature issue of Sen. Daniel Webster, R-Winter Garden, a conservative stalwart who is ending a 28-year legislative career. Republicans outnumber Democrats 26-14 in the upper chamber, but seven GOP senators voted against the bill. One Democrat voted "yes."