Proposed Ohio abortion law would be strictest in nation
Panel advances bill to outlaw procedure at heartbeat stage
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A state House committee on Wednesday narrowly approved a bill that would impose the strictest abortion limit in the nation, outlawing the procedure at the first detectable fetal heartbeat.
The Health Committee voted 12-11 to approve the so-called Heartbeat Bill. The bill would need to be approved by the House, where its future is uncertain.
Supporters led by Janet Folger Porter, the director of the Faith2Action network of pro-family groups and a former legislative director of the anti-abortion group Ohio Right to Life, have hoped that the bill sparks a legal challenge to the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling legalizing abortion.
“What I want to tell you is, this is our moment to do what we’ve been working for, praying for, hoping for, for 38 years,” Porter told the committee in a final impassioned plea for the bill’s passage.
Porter has led a charge to line up a host of high-profile supporters for the bill. They have included Cincinnati physician Jack Willke, a former president of the National Right to Life Committee and founder of the International Right to Life Federation, and Phil Burress, whose Citizens for Community Values led the charge to ban gay marriage.
But Porter doesn’t have the support of Ohio Right to Life, which fears the legal challenge she seeks could jeopardize other abortion limits in Ohio and expand access to legal abortions.
“As drafted, our position has been very clear. This bill had numerous negative consequences and unintended consequences,” said Ohio Right to Life executive director Mike Gonadakis. “It’s the right idea at the wrong time. Timing’s everything in the pro-life movement.”
Gonadakis said an unsuccessful court challenge that makes it to the U.S. Supreme Court could end up overturning Ohio’s informed consent law.
The Roe v. Wade ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a woman’s right to an abortion until fetal viability. A fetus is usually considered viable at 22 to 24 weeks. Fetal heartbeats can be detected as early as six weeks.
NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio executive director Kellie Copeland blasted those who backed the heartbeat measure in Wednesday’s vote. “This just shows this committee doesn’t give a damn about the reproductive rights of Ohio women, nor does it trust them to make their own decisions,” Copeland said.