Dayton likely to veto

Two bills restricting abortion passed the Minnesota House on Friday, but neither gained the votes needed to override a likely veto by pro-choice Gov. Mark Dayton.

One of the bills would prohibit abortions starting at 20 weeks after conception, unless it would save the woman’s life or prevent lasting physical impairment. A woman is usually considered about 22 weeks pregnant at that point under the common method of measuring the length of pregnancy.

That legislation passed by a vote of 82-46.

A separate bill to ban public funding of abortions passed 80-44. It takes 90 votes in the House to override a veto by the governor.

Rep. Rich Murray, R-Albert Lea, voted for both bills.

“I voted for them because I am a pro-life person, and I believe that babies can feel pain,” Murray said. “That’s why we’re pushing this 20-week deal.”

Murray said he voted for the ban on publicly funded abortions because he doesn’t like the thought of his or anyone else’s tax dollars going towards a procedure he opposes.

Austin Democrat Rep. Jeanne Poppe voted against both bills on Friday. Although Poppe is an abortion rights supporter, she said this isn’t just about abortion.

“The big issue is that we have a budget bill and we have to balance the budget,” Poppe said. “We have some really significant things the state should be concentrating on, and we’re seeing bills that just raise the emotions but don’t actually solve any problems.”

She said the bill banning publicly funded abortions “attacks poor women” who may not be able to afford alternatives. More attention needs to be paid to prevent unwanted and unplanned pregnancies in Minnesota, Poppe said.

Murray said the bills have picked up some support as they have moved through the House.

“I would think (the bills’ sponsors) will continue to work on the bills,” he said. “They will be back, and maybe they’ll try to figure out how to get a few more votes from the Democrats so we can pass them.”

—The Associated Press contributed to this report.