Ohio House again passes "heartbeat" anti-abortion bill

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Ohio House again passes "heartbeat" anti-abortion bill
Source: Reuters - Wed, 25 Mar 2015 21:24 GMT

By Kim Palmer

CLEVELAND, March 25 (Reuters) - The Ohio House of Representatives on Wednesday again passed a bill that would outlaw abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, or at about six weeks, but it is not expected to become law.

A heartbeat bill previously passed the Republican-controlled House in 2011, only to die in the Republican-led Senate. The bill is opposed by Governor John Kasich, also a Republican, along with some anti-abortion activists, who think it would be unconstitutional.

The House vote on Wednesday was 55-40. There are no exceptions for rape or incest. Similar legislation was introduced in the House in 2013, but it failed a floor vote in 2014.

"With the passage of HB 69, Ohio Republicans have shown they'll stop at nothing in their quest to deny women their rights, no matter how dangerous their efforts may be," said Ohio State Representative Kathy DiCristofaro, chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus.


Read more: http://www.trust.org/item/20150325212456-grs96/

[Judi Lynn]

1. Guardian: Ohio anti-abortion 'heartbeat bill' passes in house but likely to face opposition

Ohio anti-abortion 'heartbeat bill' passes in house but likely to face opposition

Abortion banned after first sign of fetal heartbeat at six weeks, legislation says
Pro-choice groups: bill would essentially outlaw abortion in state

Sabrina Siddiqui in New York
@SabrinaSiddiqui
Wednesday 25 March 2015 17.12 EDT Last modified on Wednesday 25 March

State representatives in Ohio on Wednesday passed legislation that would ban abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which usually occurs at six weeks of pregnancy.

The 55-40 vote marked the third time the Ohio house has sought to advance the so-called “heartbeat bill”, which makes no exceptions for victims of rape or incest. The language further states that physicians who violate the ban would be guilty of a fifth-degree felony, punishable by up to a year in prison and a $2,500 fine. The bill is unlikely to go any further, facing stiff opposition in the senate as well as from John Kasich, the Republican governor of Ohio.

Kasich and pro-life groups such as Right to Life have expressed concerns that the heartbeat bill is unconstitutional and could result in litigation that might result in a federal judge easing existing restrictions on abortions. The Ohio senate president, Republican Keith Faber, is also opposed to the legislation, making its prospects even more dim.

Abortion rights groups have pointed out that many women do not even know they are pregnant at six weeks. The bill would essentially outlaw abortion in the state of Ohio, they argued.

More:'http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/25/ohio-anti-abortion-heartbeat-bill-passes-house

[uppityperson]

2. what does a heartbeat have to do with this? Shame on them for continuing to chip away to make

abortions available only to rich and famous.

But seriously, what is it with the heart beating? Why should that make any difference beyond some arbitrary limitation.

[AtheistCrusader]

3. Because it's a really short limit. They're all about incrementalism. Tighter and tighter.

Eventually if they keep making progress, they win.

[uppityperson]

4. That is all I can figure, an arbitrary limitation which is also short.

[Larry Engels]

13. They shoulda picked brain waves as the standard.

They start around day 40. That would be more scientific-seeming. Also more consonant with the flat brain-wave criterion for death.

But then, this isn't about science, is it?

[nomorenomore08]

9. They can't get away with an outright ban, so they're taking a more sneak tack. n/t

[Chicago1980]

5. When are they going to pass an anti masturbation bill?

Imagine the lives saved.

[hifiguy]

6. You know it's on the list.

And welcome to DU!

[FiveGoodMen]

12. As soon as everyone forgets Christine O'Donnell

[mpcamb]

7. Anybody else getting tired of these GUYS

in state legislature deciding what women ought to do?

[nomorenomore08]

10. Yeah, it's pretty gross. Shows how much they *don't* consider women competent adults. n/t

[FiveGoodMen]

14. They always have the support of one of those terrible gods

It's the gods we need to get rid of if we ever want a sane country.

[davidpdx]

8. The margin isn't wide enough to overcome a veto unless Kasich changes his mind and signs it

I think it is dead. Really what is next, a woman can't go to the bathroom after sex because she might kill the sperm that could potentially lead to a child??? Unreal.............

[smirkymonkey]

11. So does this mean we can still abort Ohio State Representatives without

a heartbeat? Well then, I guess it's time for a new election!