Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt

WASHINGTON – The Ohio House has passed a bill to criminalize abortions which take place after a fetal heartbeat can be detected- this can be as early as six weeks before many women even know they’re pregnant. Although Gov. John Kasich vetoed the bill once in 2016, the legislature may have enough votes now to overturn another veto—and Governor-elect Mike DeWine has promised to sign the measure once he takes office.

This dangerous, extremist legislation – which makes no exception for rape or incest – is designed to jail doctors, punish women, and overturn the law of the land.  The author of the bill, Janet Porter, worked on Roy Moore’s Senate campaign in Alabama and defended him against accusations of sexual misconduct with teen girls. Now, she says that “we literally crafted this legislation to be the arrow in the heart of Roe v Wade.  It is made to come before the United States Supreme Court.”

The stepped-up, all-out, no-holds-barred crusade against women’s health we feared with the elevation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court has begun in earnest.  With this measure, Ohio is sending Justice Kavanaugh a “save the date” card to get ready to vote on repealing Roe.  This notice needs to be marked “return to sender,” and anti-choice extremists must be stopped. NOW will continue to advocate for women’s fundamental right to healthcare – including safe, affordable and legal access to abortion  – and urges its members to lobby their representatives to do the same.

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