Majority Republicans in the Assembly need to approve a bill to help rape victims, according to GOP Representative Terry Musser. He's a co-sponsor of the measure that would require hospitals to provide emergency contraception to women who have been sexually assaulted.
Musser says it's too much of an emotional issue for Republicans to ignore it. That's why he thinks it will get an overwhelming vote on the Assembly floor, if it makes it there.
The bill has already been approved by the Democratic-controlled state Senate, and had a hearing earlier this week in an Assembly Committee. However, no further action has been scheduled in the Assembly.
Musser says if Republicans don't approve the measure, they'll get "beat up terribly" going into next year's elections. He says supporters of the bill could easily run campaign ads against Republicans saying they "voted against rape victims."