Engaging in often emotion debates over the proposals, the Florida House Wednesday passed a package of pro-life legislation, including a measure requiring women seeking abortions to have and pay for an ultrasound.

Republicans and Democrats engaged in limited debate over the bills based on a previous agreement.  At the start of the debate, House Majority Leader Carlos Lopez-Cantera of Miami marshaled Republicans, while Rep. Jim Waldman of Coconut Creek served in his now-familiar role as floor manager for the Democrats.

The first bill tackled was HB 501 which was sponsored by Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala. Baxley’s bill would move fees garnered from the sale of the ChooseLife license plates to be redistributed from counties to the Choose Life Foundation, which runs pregnancy centers encouraging pregnant women to put their unborn children up for adoption instead of having an abortion. The bill passed 82-35 with four Democrats breaking with their party to back the measure.

“Never has a specialty plate been more harassed than this specialty plate,” said Baxley, who added that it was over its pro-life message. He attacked the “lack of uniformity” currently in place in the counties.

Democrats tried to chip away at the measure, arguing that the money raised may not be spent in the Sunshine State.

“There is no guarantee that the women helped will be … in Florida,” said Rep. Lori Berman, D-Delray Beach.

“There is nothing that they are doing that is above the radar,” insisted Waldman, who argued that the state could not hold the organization accountable.

“We know where the money will go,” fired back Rep. Larry Ahern, R-St. Petersburg. “We know it is, in fact, a pro-life organization.”

Baxley also sponsored forwarding a proposed constitutional amendment to the voters which would ensure the Florida Constitution would not create broader abortion rights than the U.S. Constitution. The proposal passed 82-35.

Republicans backed the measure, arguing that the proposal would allow Floridians to weigh in on the matter while still respecting Roe v. Wade as the law of the land.

“Let the people decide if they want public dollars to be used to fund abortion,” said Baxley.

“This is one of the most important issues we will face in the Legislature,” said Rep. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville. “The question we have to ask ourselves is when does life begin.”

“Why does justice stop when we get to unborn children?” continued Perry. “Put away your political affiliations and look at this bill.”

Democrats insisted that Baxley’s proposed amendment was an attack on women, often resorting to emotional arguments.

“Here we go again, females being attacked in this chamber,” insisted Rep. Gwyn Clarke-Reed, D-Pompano Beach.

“This bill is a back-door attempt to send women to the back alleys,” said Rep. Scott Randolph, D-Orlando. “If you believe there is any right to choose in this state, you should not vote for this amendment.”

Legislators took to the floor to debate the measure -- with Democrats attacking it and Republicans praising it, sparring over the use of taxpayer dollars and abortion, when life begins, religion, and the right to privacy.

The only Democrat to speak for Baxley’s proposal was Rep. Daphne Campbell of Miami Shores. She spoke passionately for the proposal, speaking out against abortion and quoting the Bible.

For the amendment to be passed, 60 percent of the voters need to approve it at the ballot box.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Shalimar, introduced a proposal banning the use of public funds to be used for elective abortions. Gaetz’s bill passed 80-37, which came closer to party lines than either of the two measures introduced by Baxley.

“It says we won’t let the Affordable Care Act do an end-run around the Hyde Amendment,” insisted Gaetz. While stressing his pro-life credentials, Gaetz said the measure would protect Floridians who do not want their dollars to go to a procedure they cannot back.

The debate on Gaetz’s measure proved very emotional, with both sides referring to incidents from their own lives.