State Senate's Anti-Abortion Bill Could Trigger Lawsuits

A bill designed to remove all state funding for abortion made it's way through an important state Senate committee today.

The bill, which passed the state Senate Health and Human Services Committee, is heralded by supporters for saving the state money, although state Sen. Linda Berglin (DFL-Minneapolis) said lawsuits could cost the state more than it saves.

Raleigh Levine, constitutional law professor at William Mitchell College of Law, said the bill flies in the face of a prior Minnesota Supreme Court decision.

Sen. Dave Thompson (R-Lakeville), the bill's author, said it's possible that precedent could be overturned.

The bill is now headed to the Senate Judiciary Committee.