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Ohio’s Anti-Abortion Bills Will Be Challenged

The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio has made it clear that it will mount a legal challenge against the “Heartbeat” bill. That legislation is aimed to ban abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected. They will also challenge another bill that is aimed at restricting abortion. ACLU-Ohio executive director Christine Link said in a press release that “Both of these bills are clearly unconstitutional and the ACLU will challenge them in court. …Lawmakers should seriously consider whether it is worth wasting taxpayer dollars on costly litigation simply to earn a few political points.”

The sponsor of the bill, Representative Lynn Wachtmann, R-Napoleon, attacked back saying “I’m sure those who continually want to kill the unborn will use every tool they have in the courts….”

One problem that Wachtmann and the bill face comes from the passage of Issue 3, which was designed to attack the federal Healthcare Reform Bill. That constitutional amendment was passed by the voters, and prohibits any mandate requiring Ohioans to buy healthcare coverage. Kellie Copeland, NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio executive director, stated “It is shocking that, on the heels of Issue 3’s passage, the Ohio Senate is attempting to pass two anti-choice bills that violate our newly amended state constitution.”

The amendment says that no state, federal or local law or rule can prohibit the purchase of healthcare or health insurance, nor can they impose a penalty or fine for the sale or purchase of those. The House Bill 125, aka the Heartbeat Bill, and House Bill 79 ban Ohioans from purchasing health insurance that includes abortion coverage. The bills are now in front of the Senate. Copeland also pointed out that the bills will endanger women’s health and interfere with doctor-patient relationships.

Making matters worse, this bill will cost the state of Ohio a lot of money that it can ill afford to spend given that the state has not been recovering very well under the leadership of Governor John Kaisich.

Via Dayton Daily News