Babykilling is still considered interstate commerce.

AP: Senate to weigh interstate abortion bill

A bill to outlaw taking minors over state lines for secret abortions failed late Friday. But passage wasn't the point. The vote alone gave Republicans a shot at political redemption during a legislative year that began and ended without passage of major items on the agendas of social conservatives.

Like the party's failed efforts to ban gay marriage and flag desecration, the vote on the interstate abortion ban was an effort to energize social conservatives — the GOP base — as Republicans struggled to defend their congressional majority before the Nov. 7 election.

On the abortion bill, there was no debate Friday, just a roll call.

Republicans failed to get the 60 votes required to advance the bill to a final vote.

The bill would make it a federal crime for anyone other than a parent to take a child over state lines for an abortion in an effort to circumvent parental involvement laws.

The Senate vote stopped the bill from heading to the White House for Bush's signature. Republicans said the House's 264-153 vote Tuesday confirmed public sentiment that parental involvement superseded a minor's right to have an abortion.

Democratic opponents warned that such a policy would cut off an escape route for girls with abusive parents and make criminals of well-meaning family members, clergy and doctors.

Well-meaning folks murder children. Who knew?