BY PAUL BARTON
Enquirer Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON -- For two Tristate Democrats who face tough political races this fall, recent House votes have been tests of their views on abortion.
Reps. Ted Strickland of Lucasville, who is running for re-election this year, and Scotty Baesler of Lexington, who is running for the U.S. Senate in Kentucky, both identify themselves as defenders of abortion rights.
But both found themselves voting with Republicans on abortion-related issues.
The GOP-controlled House last month had votes on:
- Legislation to prohibit minors from being taken across state lines to avoid the issue of parental consent: Mr. Strickland and Mr. Baesler voted with Tristate Republicans and the Republican majority to pass the restriction.
- Rejection of the president's veto of a ban on partial-birth abortion: Mr. Strickland and Mr. Baesler joined Republicans in voting to override it.
More such votes are expected before members go home in October to complete their election campaigns. Democrats suspect the elections are a major force driving the votes.
"What's happening is the leadership of the House, knowing this is a volatile issue, is putting out test votes," said Mr. Baesler's press aide, John Townsend.
Mr. Strickland has similar suspicions.
"I think they are (test votes), but I think they are overestimating the wisdom of the voters," the congressman said.
Not so, contends Rep. John Boehner, R-West Chester, chairman of the House Republican Conference.
"We do these things because they are the right thing to do, not to cater to any particular constituency," said Rep. Boehner's spokesman, Dave Schnittger.
"These things are part of our agenda and an important part of our agenda, particularly overturning the president's partial-birth abortion ban."
Meanwhile, Mr. Baesler "is not an extremist in any sense," said Mr. Townsend.
For instance, he said, Mr. Baesler supports abortion rights, but opposes federal funding of abortion except in cases of rape, incest or threat to the mother's life.
And his opposition to partial-birth abortion and allowing minors to be taken across state lines for the procedure without their parents' consent shows how he avoids extreme positions, Mr. Townsend said.
"He sees himself as a centrist on it. Most Kentuckians are divided about it," said Mr. Townsend.
Mr. Strickland said his votes reflect a consistent philosophy. On his support for the bill relating to transportation of minors across state lines, he said, "I don't consider that legislation in conflict with the fact that I am pro-choice."
