ALAN FRAM, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — With thousands of anti-abortion protesters in the nation’s capital, Republicans are ready to push legislation through the House designed to please them. But it’s not the bill an embarrassed GOP was hoping for.

Republican leaders were forced late Wednesday to abruptly drop plans for House debate of legislation criminalizing most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. They concluded they were short of votes.

Some GOP women and other lawmakers objected that while the measure allowed exemptions for victims of rape or incest, it only excluded those women who had already reported the crimes to authorities.

They argued that the requirement put unfair pressure on women who have already suffered.

Instead, the House will debate legislation barring taxpayer funding for abortions — a prohibition that’s already largely in place.