House Republicans pass watered-down antiabortion bill
House Republicans passed a watered-down antiabortion bill Thursday after abruptly dropping plans to pass another measure deemed too restrictive by some female GOP lawmakers who feared it would spoil the party’s chances of broadening its appeal to women and younger voters.
The rare rebellion by moderate Republicans demonstrated again the changing contours of the party’s expanded House majority. The 246-member GOP caucus is seeing rifts on issues where it once had more unity now that there are more moderates who could face tougher reelection battles if more Democratic and independent voters turn out for the 2016 presidential election.
Already this month, a large bloc of moderate Republicans voted against a spending bill that would repeal President Obama’s changes to immigration policy enacted by executive action. More than two dozen Republicans from metro areas with large immigrant populations...
