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Richard Piatt ReportingAbortion restrictions, defining marriage, streamlined government and education top the priority list for Republican House members this year.
These are issues the Republican caucus agrees on at this point. That's significant because Republicans have a two-thirds majority over Democrats in the House this year.
Republican leadership met with reporters this morning to identify their priorities. Things like fewer mandates and more flexibility for educators when it comes to mandates and money. Also topping the list: Family Values initiatives, involving abortions and 'defining marriage'.
Even if some of those initiatives land in court, the Attorney General says it could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in the case of the partial birth abortion ban, Republican lawmakers say it's worth it.
Rep. Greg Curtis, House Majority Leader: "We're working to minimize those the best we can by following the federal statute. But I clearly believe it's worth the expenditure of funds."
Also today, the House voted to remove the Firing Squad as an option to death row inmates, and a House Committee approved a resolution to remove the United States from the United Nations. And The Senate gave final approval to the ban on partial birth abortions. It now heads to the House for consideration.
