Senate Gets Abortion Bill

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The fight over new abortion restrictions is moving to the Texas Senate, with Christian conservatives rallying for the bill.

Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum is hosting lawmakers to show their support for House Bill 2 on the Capitol steps Thursday.

The Texas House approved the measure on Thursday and it is moving toward a final vote in the Senate on Friday. If passed, it would require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, only allow abortions in surgical centers, dictate when abortion pills are taken and ban abortions after 20 weeks.

Thousands of protesters both supporting and opposing the bill have flooded the Capitol.

Christian conservatives have made the bill a top priority, attracting national attention. Democrats hope to use the anger over the bill to build more support.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.