WASHINGTON -- Republicans and abortion opponents charged Wednesday that Democrats were not playing fair in blocking a newly approved Senate bill that would make it illegal to transport a teenager across state lines to terminate a pregnancy.

Angry representatives of anti-abortion groups focused their criticism on Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.

The Democratic leader voted for the bill, but anti-abortion groups claimed he had orchestrated the blockade.

"This is the responsibility of the leader and the collective responsibility of the Democratic caucus," said Douglas Johnson, president of the National Right to Life Committee.

Johnson likened Reid to former Democratic leader Tom Daschle, "who would go back home to South Dakota and tell people he was for various pieces of legislation, then would work very skillfully to prevent those pieces of legislation from going all the way through."

"Senator Reid -- if this obstructionism persists -- is going to be in a very similar posture, of voting for a bill but under his authority it is being obstructed," said Johnson, who noted that Daschle was defeated for re-election in 2004.

Reid responded in a statement, saying: "Republicans are in control of both the House and the Senate. If the supporters of this legislation are concerned about delays, they should encourage (Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.) to push the House to pass the Senate-passed bill."

Shortly after the bill passed the Senate by a 65-34 vote on Tuesday, Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democratic leader, blocked it from being sent to a conference committee with the House.

A spokesman said Durbin was concerned that Senate Republicans appointed to the conference committee might accept the House version of the bill, which is considered more restrictive on abortion rights.

Frist and the bill's sponsor, Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., called a news conference with a House lawmaker and representatives of four conservative groups to press Democrats to remove the block.

Frist said he had the 60 votes necessary to overcome the obstacle but it would take several days. He did not say when he might exercise the option.

"What the Democrats are doing is not fair, not right," Ensign said. "There is not an issue that separates people more than the abortion issue. They say on both sides we need to find some common ground. We finally found some common ground. For the Democrats now to step up and block this is really outrageous."

Ensign declined to criticize Reid, however, saying, "As far as I'm concerned, I don't know who's being disingenuous on their side."

Democrats, he said, "did not act honorably."

The Senate bill would make it a federal crime, punishable by a fine or up to one year in jail, to transport a pregnant teen across state lines for an abortion in violation of state parental consent laws.

Frist called it a "modest" bill that strengthens states' abilities to enforce parental consent laws. Opponents have said it would target family members, clergy and others who try to help pregnant teens from troubled homes.

Democrats charged the bill was brought up for debate as a gesture to core conservative voters. Ensign disputed that, noting it was passed with votes from 14 Democrats as well as Republicans.

Ensign said the bill would stop older men who prey on girls and transport them to get abortions in states that don't have restrictions for underage patients.

Democrats argued it would endanger pregnant girls in abusive homes. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., argued that the government could not force communication in families where it was already broken.