Abortion

The Republican author of a bill to punish sex-selective abortion blasted Obama for his stance in favor of abortion rights.

About one-third of U.S. women say there is a "wide-scale effort" under way to limit their access to birth control, abortion and other reproductive health services, according to a new poll from the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation.

The finding comes as Democrats continue to hammer Republicans leading up to November using the charge that the right, in its disagreement with certain women's health policies, is mounting a "war on women."

Thirty-one percent of women appear to agree with this charge, including 30 percent of centrist women, Kaiser found in May. Smaller shares — 23 and 22 percent, respectively — both agreed and called the effort a "bad thing."

Rep. Trent Franks said, "Sex selection abortion is extreme violence against unborn baby girls and their mothers."

The groups are backing legislation meant to ban abortions motivated in part by the fetus's gender.

Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) said Wednesday afternoon that sex-selective abortions are occurring in the United States, decrying the practice as "barbaric."

"I know most Americans think this is something that happens overseas in places like China and India," Pitts said on the House floor. "However, a Columbia University study found evidence that sex selection at the prenatal level is happening right here in the United States.

Planned Parenthood's ad campaign slams Mitt Romney for "harmful positions on women's health."

The controversial bill aims to ban sex-selective abortions by fining or imprisoning doctors who perform them. 

In panel vote, lawmakers repeal rule barring federal funding for nonprofit groups that promote or provide abortions.

Several dozen protesters are expected to descend on the D.C. office of Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) Wednesday afternoon to challenge proposed legislation banning late-term abortions in the District.

The results come as a rising number of religious groups file suit over the Obama administration's new contraception mandate.