Cathy and Randy Licht and their adopted daughter, Emma, who was born in China, listen to testimony Monday on Senate Bill 56, which would ban sex-selection abortions. The measure failed on a party-line vote. (Lynn Bartels, The Denver Post)

A Senate bill that would ban sex-selection abortions and a House measure to "preserve religious freedom" died in their Democratic-controlled committee hearings Monday.

Both measures are among the pieces of socially conservative legislation introduced this session by Republicans, despite efforts by some party members to move the party more to the center after their November drubbing.

Sen. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, said he introduced the bill because there is growing evidence that in some cultures pregnant women are having abortions after learning they are carrying a girl.

"We might disagree about when life begins or whether a mother has a right to use abortion for means of birth control, but I hope there is no disagreement about which gender has more human value than the other," he said.

The Senate Judiciary Committee killed Senate Bill 56 on a party-line vote 2-3 vote, with both Republicans in favor and all three Democrats opposed.

"I think as a physician I would be concerned about asking someone their motive for having an abortion," said Sen. Irene Aguilar, D-Denver, who is a medical doctor.

Those who testified for the measure include Cathy and Randy Licht of Monument, who appeared with their 10-year-old daughter, Emma, whom they adopted from China.

"Just to give you a heads up, I missed dodgeball and a Chinese New Year's celebration to see if I can save a person's life," Emma told the committee.

Testifying against the bill was Laura Reinsch, the political organizer at NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado.

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Bills on abortion, "religious freedom" shot down by Democrats