SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Emboldened by Trump, Ohio GOP Passes Extreme Attack on Abortion Rights
Bill to ban abortion after fetal heartbeat can be detected—as early as six weeks—on its way to anti-choice Governor John Kasich's desk
Dec 07, 2016
Ohio lawmakers approved a bill late Tuesday that bans abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected. The bill is now headed to Governor John Kasich's desk. If signed, it will be one of the strictest abortion laws in the country.
The so-called heartbeat bill means that abortion could be prohibited as early as six weeks after conception--a point at which many women may not even realize they are pregnant--effectively making it illegal in the state.
Lawmakers passed the bill largely along party lines, "emboldened by anticipation of [President-elect] Donald Trump's upcoming federal and Supreme court appointments," as Cincinnati.com reports. Republicans in the state have tried to advance the heartbeat bill in some form since 2011.
In Ohio, Republicans control both legislative chambers, as well as the governor's office. Kasich is well known for his anti-choice stance, having previously sought to strip funding from Planned Parenthood, but he has also expressed skepticism over former iterations of the heartbeat bill.
NARAL Pro-Choice America launched a petition calling on Kasich to veto the legislation.
"This was completely unexpected, and senators had less than 90 minutes to review the amendment before voting," the organization wrote.
The measure was tucked last minute into an unrelated child abuse bill and has no exceptions for rape or incest. As Cincinnati.com notes, the change "would put the state in violation of current constitutional standards for abortion rights."
Planned Parenthood wrote on Twitter, "Ohio anti-abortion extremists know how unpopular their agenda is, so they have to sneak it into unrelated bills."
"After years of passing anti-abortion laws under the guise of protecting women's health and safety, they lay bare their true motives: to ban abortion in the state of Ohio," said Planned Parenthood Action Fund spokesperson Dawn Laguens.
Just hours after the bill passed, protesters gathered outside the Governor's mansion, holding signs that read, "Abortion Access Now," "My Body, My Rights, My Choice," and "Trust Women."
Federal courts have struck down similar measures in North Dakota and Arkansas, but Republican lawmakers said the Ohio bill could survive a legal challenge with the incoming administration.
"A new president, new Supreme Court appointees change the dynamic, and there was consensus in our caucus to move forward," Ohio Senate President Keith Faber told the Columbus Dispatch.
Ohio's approval comes amid more anti-choice moves around the country. On Monday, the Texas Department of State Health Services released an online pamphlet rife with medically debunked myths about abortion, including its alleged link to cancer and suicide risks. According to state law, doctors are required to give the information to all patients seeking abortions.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Nadia Prupis
Nadia Prupis is a former Common Dreams staff writer. She wrote on media policy for Truthout.org and has been published in New America Media and AlterNet. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in English in 2008.
Ohio lawmakers approved a bill late Tuesday that bans abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected. The bill is now headed to Governor John Kasich's desk. If signed, it will be one of the strictest abortion laws in the country.
The so-called heartbeat bill means that abortion could be prohibited as early as six weeks after conception--a point at which many women may not even realize they are pregnant--effectively making it illegal in the state.
Lawmakers passed the bill largely along party lines, "emboldened by anticipation of [President-elect] Donald Trump's upcoming federal and Supreme court appointments," as Cincinnati.com reports. Republicans in the state have tried to advance the heartbeat bill in some form since 2011.
In Ohio, Republicans control both legislative chambers, as well as the governor's office. Kasich is well known for his anti-choice stance, having previously sought to strip funding from Planned Parenthood, but he has also expressed skepticism over former iterations of the heartbeat bill.
NARAL Pro-Choice America launched a petition calling on Kasich to veto the legislation.
"This was completely unexpected, and senators had less than 90 minutes to review the amendment before voting," the organization wrote.
The measure was tucked last minute into an unrelated child abuse bill and has no exceptions for rape or incest. As Cincinnati.com notes, the change "would put the state in violation of current constitutional standards for abortion rights."
Planned Parenthood wrote on Twitter, "Ohio anti-abortion extremists know how unpopular their agenda is, so they have to sneak it into unrelated bills."
"After years of passing anti-abortion laws under the guise of protecting women's health and safety, they lay bare their true motives: to ban abortion in the state of Ohio," said Planned Parenthood Action Fund spokesperson Dawn Laguens.
Just hours after the bill passed, protesters gathered outside the Governor's mansion, holding signs that read, "Abortion Access Now," "My Body, My Rights, My Choice," and "Trust Women."
Federal courts have struck down similar measures in North Dakota and Arkansas, but Republican lawmakers said the Ohio bill could survive a legal challenge with the incoming administration.
"A new president, new Supreme Court appointees change the dynamic, and there was consensus in our caucus to move forward," Ohio Senate President Keith Faber told the Columbus Dispatch.
Ohio's approval comes amid more anti-choice moves around the country. On Monday, the Texas Department of State Health Services released an online pamphlet rife with medically debunked myths about abortion, including its alleged link to cancer and suicide risks. According to state law, doctors are required to give the information to all patients seeking abortions.
Nadia Prupis
Nadia Prupis is a former Common Dreams staff writer. She wrote on media policy for Truthout.org and has been published in New America Media and AlterNet. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in English in 2008.
Ohio lawmakers approved a bill late Tuesday that bans abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected. The bill is now headed to Governor John Kasich's desk. If signed, it will be one of the strictest abortion laws in the country.
The so-called heartbeat bill means that abortion could be prohibited as early as six weeks after conception--a point at which many women may not even realize they are pregnant--effectively making it illegal in the state.
Lawmakers passed the bill largely along party lines, "emboldened by anticipation of [President-elect] Donald Trump's upcoming federal and Supreme court appointments," as Cincinnati.com reports. Republicans in the state have tried to advance the heartbeat bill in some form since 2011.
In Ohio, Republicans control both legislative chambers, as well as the governor's office. Kasich is well known for his anti-choice stance, having previously sought to strip funding from Planned Parenthood, but he has also expressed skepticism over former iterations of the heartbeat bill.
NARAL Pro-Choice America launched a petition calling on Kasich to veto the legislation.
"This was completely unexpected, and senators had less than 90 minutes to review the amendment before voting," the organization wrote.
The measure was tucked last minute into an unrelated child abuse bill and has no exceptions for rape or incest. As Cincinnati.com notes, the change "would put the state in violation of current constitutional standards for abortion rights."
Planned Parenthood wrote on Twitter, "Ohio anti-abortion extremists know how unpopular their agenda is, so they have to sneak it into unrelated bills."
"After years of passing anti-abortion laws under the guise of protecting women's health and safety, they lay bare their true motives: to ban abortion in the state of Ohio," said Planned Parenthood Action Fund spokesperson Dawn Laguens.
Just hours after the bill passed, protesters gathered outside the Governor's mansion, holding signs that read, "Abortion Access Now," "My Body, My Rights, My Choice," and "Trust Women."
Federal courts have struck down similar measures in North Dakota and Arkansas, but Republican lawmakers said the Ohio bill could survive a legal challenge with the incoming administration.
"A new president, new Supreme Court appointees change the dynamic, and there was consensus in our caucus to move forward," Ohio Senate President Keith Faber told the Columbus Dispatch.
Ohio's approval comes amid more anti-choice moves around the country. On Monday, the Texas Department of State Health Services released an online pamphlet rife with medically debunked myths about abortion, including its alleged link to cancer and suicide risks. According to state law, doctors are required to give the information to all patients seeking abortions.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.
To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good.
News & Opinion
Trending
Common Dreams, Inc. Founded 1997. Registered 501(c3) Non-Profit
Privacy Policy