Arkansas lawmakers OK ban of common abortion procedure

(AP) — Arkansas is poised to become the third state to ban a commonly used second-trimester abortion procedure under restrictions lawmakers approved Thursday that are expected to face a legal challenge.

The majority-GOP Senate voted 25-6 to ban the procedure known as dilation and evacuation, which abortion-rights supporters contend is the safest and most common procedure used in second-trimester abortions.

Arkansas Right to Life has called the prohibition its top legislative priority in Arkansas, and the group's president has called the procedure "barbaric."

Republicans also expanded their majorities in both chambers of the Arkansas Legislature and are expected to consider further restrictions on abortion procedures.

The ban on dilation and evacuation was approved on a mostly party-line vote, with three of the Senate's nine Democrats joining Republicans to support the proposal.