Abortion Bill Gains in Senate; Panel Passes 1-Day Wait; House Backs Contraception Measure

Legislation requiring a woman seeking an abortion to wait 24 hours after seeing a doctor was sent to the floor of the Virginia Senate today, a long-sought victory for social conservatives who for years have failed to pry such a measure from an unfriendly Senate committee.

Meanwhile, across the Capitol building, the House waded into an equally emotional issue, narrowly giving preliminary approval to legislation that would allow pharmacists to distribute morning-after contraceptives without a physician's prescription. A final vote on the House floor is expected Thursday.

The…