Arizona Republicans are shutting down efforts to debate the Equal Rights Amendment in the legislature.
The ERA is a proposed amendment to the Constitution that would guarantee equal rights for men and women.
Tuscon Democrat Pamela Hannley tried to bring a vote to the floor in the State House Tuesday but Republican Majority Leader John Allen moved to recess the session in a vote that split along party lines.
Women lawmakers spent the day making speeches in support of the amendment. One Republican male lawmaker argued that the amendment could be used to remove restrictions on abortion.
The ERA was introduced in 1972. Thirty-six states have ratified it since. The deadline to reach the 38 states needed passed in 1982.