The Senate is balking at a provision in the House bill that would allow Republican Attorney General Josh Hawley intervene in local abortion law cases.

Republican Sen. Ryan Silvey of Kansas City said he cannot support that, even though he has had an anti-abortion voting record for the past 13 years. He said the Legislature should not set the precedent of giving an attorney general too much power.

“As it stands right now, I don’t think I can open that box,” Silvey said. “I’m prepared as the language stands to vote against the bill. I would prefer we work out some things.”

Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, also expressed opposition. “I probably will have to vote against this bill,” he said. “I have always been pro-life, anti-abortion. But this bill has this one piece in it that gives me serious heartburn.”

Sen. Scott Sifton, D-Affton, who is an abortion rights supporter, said the power to enforce abortion-related laws should remain in the hands of local prosecutors.

He said the Republican-controlled Legislature would never have entertained giving the same power to former Attorney General Chris Koster, a Democrat.