It was promoted as a bill that both sides of the abortion debate could support.
It hasn't worked out that way.
Nearly a year after legislation aimed at reducing unwanted pregnancies was introduced in the House and Senate, the bills sit idle in committee.
The Senate version of the Ohio Prevention First Act has had one hearing.
A companion bill in the House has had none.
"The (majority) Republicans don't support it, and they don't want to vote on it. It's as simple as that," said Kellie Copeland, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio.
About 100 advocates of the proposal from NARAL, Planned Parenthood and other groups, most of which support abortion rights, converged on the Statehouse yesterday to push for hearings and, ultimately, a vote on the bills.
Their visit came a day after anti-abortion activists dropped off "truth packets" to legislators, explaining their concerns.
"We wanted to make sure our voices were equally heard," said Mike Gonidakis, executive director of Ohio Right to Life, which is among the organizations opposing the bills.
Rep. Jon M. Peterson, a Delaware Republican who joined two Democrats to co-sponsor the bill, said it shouldn't be controversial.
"We're talking about preventing unwanted pregnancies," he said. "I am absolutely convinced the way to move responsibly down that road is through education."
The bill would:
• Require comprehensive sex-education classes -- with instruction on abstinence, contraception and condoms.
• Require health-insurance companies to cover birth control.
• Require hospitals to provide emergency contraception for sexual-assault victims and pharmacies to dispense drugs without delay.
• Provide $1.7 million for family-planning services.
Sen. Sue Morano, a Lorain Democrat and bill co-sponsor, said it would expand access to birth-control services to thousands of women and reduce their out-of-pocket expenses.
Advocates note that Ohio ranks 44th among all states and the District of Columbia for public funding of contraceptive services.
Opponents say they have several concerns. For starters, they dispute that increasing access to contraception will reduce abortions and unwanted pregnancies.
Gonidakis said they also oppose requiring anti-abortion pharmacists to dispense drugs.
