Ohio Abortion Ban Assigned to Committee
ANTI-CHOICE LEGISLATORS MOVE ON ABORTION
BAN THAT IS A DIRECT ATTACK ON ROE V. WADEBill Would Make Performing ANY Abortion Illegal, Even in Cases of Rape, Incest, or to Save the Health or Life of the Pregnant Woman (Cleveland, OH) NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio alerted state residents that legislators are moving a bill that would ban abortion throughout pregnancy, without exception—an unconstitutional proposal designed to push the issue into the courts to enable the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. HB 228, introduced by Rep. Tom Brinkman, has been assigned to the Health Committee, which positions it for a hearing in the near future. In addition to criminalizing any abortion in the state of Ohio, HB 228 would make it illegal to transport a woman to obtain an abortion in another state. This provision would even mean potential prison time for a husband that accompanies his wife to another state to receive abortion care services necessary to preserve her life or health. “It is outrageous that Ohio legislators are moving a bill that violates our core values of freedom, privacy and responsibility,” said Kellie Copeland, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio. “This bill is blatantly unconstitutional and endangers the health and lives of women in Ohio. Not only would performing an abortion be a felony, this bill would make it a felony to help a woman obtain an abortion--no exceptions, not even to save the life or health of a woman or in instances of rape or incest.” Copeland said it was no coincidence that anti-choice legislators were pushing for the bill as the country grapples with a vacancy on a Supreme Court closely divided over the issue of a woman’s right to choose as defined in Roe v. Wade. “Rep. Brinkman views this bill as a direct attack on women’s freedom as established in Roe v. Wade,” Copeland said. “He and his followers would rather attack women’s freedom than work with us on common-ground measures to prevent unintended pregnancies in Ohio. The people of this state must let their legislators know that they don’t appreciate politicians attempting to violate our fundamental freedoms, including the right to choose.”
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