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The Senate Families, Seniors and Health Committee voted 4-2 to pass the proposed constitutional amendment, sending it closer to debate before the full Senate. It had already cleared the House.

The abortion issue has dominated recently in the Legislature as conservative Republicans look to respond to last year’s Amendment 3, which overturned Missouri’s near-total abortion ban and created the right to abortion up to fetal viability.

The Republican-backed response under consideration would allow abortions in medical emergencies and when there is a fetal anomaly, as well as in cases of rape and incest up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.

“This is pro-life legislation that can and will pass muster with the Missouri voter because it allows for the exceptions that they may have voted for prior,� said Rep. Brian Seitz, R-Branson, the House bill handler. “Amendment 3 simply went too far and harms women.�

If it is debated on the floor, Democrats, who control 10 of 34 seats in the state Senate, are expected to block a vote at least initially on the legislation in pursuit of concessions. If no changes are made, it would head directly to voters upon Senate approval.

One sticking point is the proposed 12-week time limit for abortion in cases of rape, with both Democrats and House Speaker Jonathan Patterson, R-Lee’s Summit, raising concern. Patterson has said he hoped the Senate would debate whether 12 weeks is enough time.

“When we talk about sexual violence, it’s clear that it’s very difficult for victims to come forward,� said Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, D-Kansas City.

The Senate committee hearing Wednesday lasted about two hours. Proponents were allowed to testify first, with time running out before all opponents could speak on the bill.

At one point, the Rev. Molly Housh Gordon of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia, who opposed the amendment, said, “People of faith have widely varied beliefs about when life begins and that that should therefore be a religious question and not a question decided by the government.�

Later, Sen. Jill Carter, a Granby Republican who chairs the committee, said Missouri’s Constitution states that life begins at conception. She asked if murdering a 2-year-old is a religious belief. “When does it end?� Carter asked.

Gordon responded that “no major religion believes in the murder of a living human person who is out in the world after they have been born.�

Sen. Joe Nicola, R-Independence, later commented that “I’m not sure if you’ve ever heard of honor killings that the Muslims have under Sharia law ... they do kill their daughters for honor killing.�

“That is extremely racist and the use of religion to justify fundamentalist extremism happens in every faith tradition,� Gordon said.

Ghazala Hayat, spokesperson for the Islamic Foundation of Greater ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½, to a Washington Post column that “nowhere in Islamic law are honor killings allowed or condoned.... Misguided people, including some Muslims, use religion as a shelter to justify heinous acts.â€�

At another point, Sen. Patty Lewis, D-Kansas City, estimated five witnesses for the bill in the hearing room, and about 100 in opposition who traveled to the Capitol.

Carter said many on her side didn’t feel the need to testify.

“I think it’s their confidence in us, in moving this forward, that has alleviated the concern for them to have to come and be here today,� Carter said.

The legislation is Hous