ROE v. WADE / 30 YEARS LATER: Pills take on larger role in abortion debate
Two years after the abortion pill RU-486 hit the market, the drug many hoped or feared would transform abortion into a more accessible and private procedure has barely made a dent.
Meanwhile, drugs called "morning-after" pills have been quietly gaining in popularity since hitting the market four years ago. A recent study suggests they are responsible for nearly half of the 11 percent drop in the U.S. abortion rate from 1994 to 2000.
With Republicans in control of the White House and Congress, as well as the Georgia governor's seat and state Senate, many wonder whether possible new restrictions on abortion --- legalized by the Roe v. Wade decision 30 years ago this Wednesday --- could affect the use of both kinds of pills.
Nationally, several bills previously passed by the House now stand a better chance in the Senate. They include a measure to prevent minors in states with parental consent...