Richmond, VA (LifeNews.com) -- The Virginia state legislature continues to vote on abortion-related legislation as a state Senate committee rejected legislation to ensure that only board-certified doctors and OBGYNs can perform abortions in the state.

Pro-life advocates said the vote makes it appear pro-abortion groups are disingenuous when they say they want "safe" abortions and for abortion to be "between a woman and her doctor."

Sen. Kenneth Cuccinelli, a Fairfax Republican, sponsored the bill and said it was necessary because Virginia allow would currently allow anyone with a medical license, including unrelated specialists like a podiatrist or dermatologist, to perform abortions.

But Sen. R. Edward Houck, a Democrat, claims the bill was only meant to stop abortions and not protect women.

The committee defeated the legislation on a 10-5 vote.

Meanwhile, the state House has approved a bill that would require that doctors in Virginia report to the Department of Health incidents of medical complications occurring from an abortion.

"Currently there is no way to know what is happening in Virginia's abortion clinics because there are no required inspections and there are no reporting requirements," the Virginia Family Foundation said in a statement supporting the bill.

Del. William R. Janis is the sponsor of that legislation.

The House also approved earlier on a 66-33 vote a bill that would regulate abortion facilities. The pro-life measure would subject abortion centers to the same safety requirements the state has for hospitals.

Del. Robert Marshall, a Republican, says the bill is needed to ensure that women are protected from unsafe abortion businesses. He said he doesn't know how the Virginia government can claim the centers are safe if they never inspect them.

"The administration claims they're safe," Marshall said of the clinics. "No one's looked at these — but they're safe? Do they use Ouija boards? Is it clairvoyance?"

Both pieces of legislation will be assigned to the Senate Education and Health Committee. That is the committee that rejected Cuccinelli's bill and has buried pro-life legislation in the past.

TAKE ACTION: Contact members of the Senate committee and urge them to support the two bills headed their way. You can find contact information at http://legis.state.va.us

Related web sites:
Virginia Family Foundation - http://www.familyfoundation.org