Dem outcry on abortion measure they failed to notice threatens to stall anti-sex trafficking bill

A bipartisan bill aimed at combating human sex trafficking has hit a major snag after Senate Democrats -- who unanimously voted to move the bill out of committee -- hit the brakes upon discovering a Republican-backed abortion provision.

Though the relatively modest 68-page bill has been available for nearly two months, it wasn't until this week that Senate Democrats said they noticed the language, and subsequently threatened to block the bill.

As drafted, the legislation would crack down on what lawmakers in both parties agree is a seamy underworld of...