Governor Strickland Heeds Voters Call for Common Ground
Columbus, OH—Today Kellie Copeland, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, released the following statement on Governor Strickland’s decision to drop his name from his predecessor’s fight to uphold a dangerous state law that restricts the use of RU-486 for abortion. “Gov. Strickland’s announcement Tuesday represents a new direction and stronger leadership for our state. When Ohioans elected Gov. Strickland, they were looking for a governor who would focus on commonsense solutions, not the divisive and distracting anti-choice attacks of the past. NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio applauds Gov. Strickland for protecting women’s health, rather that playing the political games of the past. “Ohioans want a solution-oriented approach to the debate around a woman’s right to choose - one that focuses on reducing the need for abortion through commonsense prevention measures, while also doing more to support women who choose to carry their pregnancies to term.” Background on HB 126:
HB 126, which would have gone into effect in September 2004, required doctors to prescribe three times the necessary dose of RU-486 to women, and follow other out-dated FDA guidelines. This increased dosage requirement would have eliminated this safe, effective abortion option from thousands of low-income women who could no longer afford the costs of the medication. This state law was sponsored by Representative Tom Brinkman (R-Cincinnati). In 2004, Rep. Brinkman admitted that the goal of this bill was not to make women safe, but to make it harder for women to access abortion care. Contact: Kellie Copeland 216.283.2180
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