Massachusetts Senate Democrats are joining a push initiated last week in the House to loosen restrictions on later-term abortions. On Thursday, the Senate Committee on Rules announced it voted 5-1 to place the House's bill on the Senate's calendar for a vote of the full body, a key step forward for the controversial legislation. Details on the committee vote were not available. The House passed the bill on a 119-33 vote on July 22, with all Republicans who voted rejecting the bill. Friedman is vice chair of the Rules Committee, which is chaired by Salem Democrat Sen. Joan Lovely.