Ohio Legislators Break Promise Not to Pass Divisive Legislation
In last-ditch effort to appease far-right base, House votes to restrict abortion access for low-income women Columbus, OH— Today, Ohio legislators voted t 64 to 25 to pass H.B. 239, dangerous legislation that would restrict access to abortion for low-income women and would censor medical professionals who counsel women through state genetic counseling programs. “Just weeks after the voters of Ohio sent a clear message to state legislators to stop divisive attacks on our freedom and privacy; legislators took advantage of the lame duck session to severely restrict access to abortion care for low-income women,” said Kellie Copeland, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio. “While pro-choice advocates were successful in striking some of the most egregious and dangerous language in the bill, NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio still opposes this legislation as it codifies the state’s discrimination against abortion services, especially for poor women. It also lacks a plan to improve prenatal care or other health care services for children born to low-income women.” Copeland continued, “The current anti-choice legislature is desperately trying to pass restrictions on abortion before the new pro-choice governor, Ted Strickland, takes office. Instead of pushing through divisive legislation that Ohioans do not support, these legislators could have made a serious attempt at reducing the need for abortion by passing the commonsense, common-ground measures Ohio Prevention First Act.” H.B. 239, a measure seeking to restrict the use of public funds for abortion care and which prohibits certain programs that receive state funds from counseling or referring women for abortion care, does nothing to prevent unintended pregnancy or promote healthy childbearing. It has now passed in the House, and if the Senate also approves the measure, Governor Taft’s strongly anti-choice record indicates he is likely to sign the ban into law. Contact: Kellie Copeland, 330-524-1577 ###
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