WASHINGTON INSIGHT

MAYBE NEXT TIME: Despite assurances by House Democratic leaders that they would bring up a strong abortion rights bill before adjourning next month, the much-touted Freedom of Choice Act now appears dead for this session of Congress. . . . Its backers said they were unable to line up enough votes to ward off restrictive amendments that would have made it more difficult for women to terminate unwanted pregnancies. In addition, President Bush’s certain veto convinced Democratic leaders they would be wasting their time, since there was no chance of overriding a veto.