Anti-Abortion Lawmakers Kill House Bankruptcy Bill

A long-stalled, industry-sponsored bill to make it harder for people to erase their debts by filing for bankruptcy appeared to die in the House today, in what lawmakers saw as an embarrassing miscalculation by the newly installed House Republican leadership of the influence of anti-abortion lawmakers within their party.

The bill, which was championed by credit card companies, banks and retailers, was rejected on a procedural vote of 243 to 172, with 87 Republicans turning against their party's leadership and the White House to oppose the bill. President Bush had vowed to sign the measure if it reached his desk.

The Republican opposition was led by conservative, anti-abortion lawmakers who said a provision of the bill would have unfairly punished anti-abortion activists by restricting their ability to use the bankruptcy courts to write off court fines.

''I love my party, but I don't think I should have to sacrifice my core convictions to be in good standing,'' said Representative Christopher H. Smith, a New Jersey Republican who is an outspoken anti-abortion advocate and led the opposition.

Lawmakers said there was still a slight chance that the bill, stripped of the abortion provision to allow for easy passage, would be brought up again for a vote in the final hours before the House shuts down this week, ending its session for the year. Without the provision, the bill would face certain defeat in the Senate.

Most Democratic opponents had described the bill as too tough on low- and middle-income consumers, especially during a national economic downturn, and a similar bill was vetoed by President Bill Clinton.