Senate's Vote Sets Tone on Abortion

"The irony is, Planned Parenthood probably prevents more abortions than any other organization in the country," Howell said.

Planned Parenthood officials could not be immediately reached for comment. Delacey Skinner, Kaine's communications director, said some of the state aid for Planned Parenthood goes for programs that it operates at juvenile correction facilities to teach pregnancy prevention.

Planned Parenthood also gets state aid to run programs to prevent HIV, she said. The organization also gets some funds for providing health care to low-income women.

"The funding that goes to Planned Parenthood is going to fund teen pregnancy programs as well as pass-through for a variety of health-care procedures for low-income women," she said.

Nevertheless, the GOP effort to push the amendment through the Senate represents a major defeat for the Senate Democratic majority as it prepares to battle with the House over the budget in the remaining days before lawmakers adjourn March 8.

Earlier Wednesday, Senate Democrats vowed to stay in session past March 8 unless the House abandons plans to recalculate how public schools are funded.

In developing their proposal to meet the state's Standards of Quality, House Republicans are rewriting some funding formulas to try to save the money, Virginia Education Association officials said.

In its version of the 2008-2010 budget, House Republicans are proposing changes to the formula for the Standards of Quality, a constitutional requirement that requires schools' funding be readjusted every two years.

Teachers unions and local governments oppose the change, saying it will set back a decades-long efforts to better align teachers' salaries statewide with the national average.

If the House plan is approved, there would be $227 million less in state aid for teachers' salaries by the 2010-2012 budget, said Robert B. Rotz, division chief for the Joint Legislative Audit Review Committee.

Legislative auditors also raised questions about whether the proposed change violates the state constitution.

"I am geared and ready for battle," Howell said after Rotz's presentation. "I am ready to fight. If this were to pass, this would be the single greatest blow to public education in my 16 years down here."

Del. Phillip A. Hamilton (R-Newport News) countered that House Republicans are trying to save taxpayers money by making local governments pick up more of the share when they decided to give teacher pay raises greater than those approved by the General Assembly.

"Why should the state be reimbursing for what is basically an unfunded obligation from the localities?" Hamilton said.

Hamilton said the proposed 2008-2010 House budget includes an additional $1.1 billion for public education, including a proposed 2 percent increase in teachers' salaries later this year.

"The bottom line is this budget increases funding for education," Hamilton said.

Staff writer Sandhya Somashekar contributed to this report.