NATIONAL BRIEFING / KANSAS

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius vetoed a bill that would have rewritten restrictions on late-term abortions, questioning whether it was constitutional and suggesting it would cause “intimidation” of doctors. Antiabortion groups had backed the bill and were watching Sebelius closely as she awaits U.S. Senate confirmation as federal Health and Human Services secretary.

The bill would have required physicians to report additional information to the state about the late-term abortions they perform, and it would have allowed more county prosecutors to pursue criminal charges over potentially illegal late-term procedures.

Later, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele called on President Obama to withdraw her nomination. A final vote on Sebelius’ nomination is scheduled for next week; she is expected to be approved.