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MN GOP Introduces 20-Week Abortion Bill

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minnesota lawmakers are taking up a highly controversial abortion bill.

Republicans in the House and Senate have introduced a bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks. The proposal is modeled after the law Nebraska adopted last year that bans abortions after five months.

Supporters say that's when developing fetuses feel pain, but opponents say there is no conclusive proof of that.

According to the Star Tribune, fewer than 2 percent of the over 12,000 abortions performed in Minnesota in 2009 involved fetuses older than 20 weeks, and most of those cases involved fetuses with fatal medical conditions.

Gov. Mark Dayton says he is against the legislation and will veto it if it ends up on his desk.

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