COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina senators have voted to allow the state health plan to continue covering abortions in cases of rape and incest and to protect the mother's health.
The all-male Senate voted 26-20 on Thursday to trump a proposal that would end the exceptions for victims of rape and incest.
The Senate then adjourned for the day without voting on its $5.8 billion general budget spending plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1.
Senators spent much of their sixth day on the budget talking around the abortion issue as some tried to negotiate a compromise.
After that attempt failed, senators voted to close debate.
Republican Sen. Lee Bright of Roebuck accused senators of killing children with taxpayer money. He criticized senators for limiting debate on his proposal.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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