Ohio Governor John Kasich Vetoes The Anti-Abortion Heartbeat Bill Signs Another Restrictive Abortion
CLEVELAND, OH — Ohio Gov. John Kasich has vetoed House Bill 258, a bill passed by the Ohio House and Senate that would have banned an abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected.
The governor, however, signed another bill that severely restricts abortion into law.
Senate Bill 145, which bans dilation and evacuation abortions, commonly known as D & E abortions, is now state law.
A Republican and a 2016 presidential candidate, Kasich said he vetoed the heartbeat bill because it is “clearly contrary” to Supreme Court rulings.
Those rulings permit abortions until a viable fetus develops, usually at 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Abortion rights proponents say abortion rights are under attacked more so than anytime in American history since Roe v Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that made abortion legal nationwide.
State Rep Bill Patmon (D-10) of Cleveland, who is Black and co-sponsored the heartbeat bill, is the only Democratic state legislator out of Cuyahoga County who supported the bills, with the other Black Cleveland area legislators, namely state Sen. Sandra Williams of Cleveland (D-21) and state Reps. Stephanie Howse (D-11) and John Barnes Jr. (D-12) of Cleveland, and Janine Boyd (D-9) of Cleveland Heights, opposing the measures.
Legislators will now be called back for a vote to possibly override Kasich’s veto on the heartbeat bill, which simply will not happen, sources say.
A three-fifths vote by both of the Republican controlled chambers, where the Senate has a super majority, is needed to override a veto by the governor.
Abortion advocates such as NARAL Pro- Choice and Planned Parenthood have picketed at the statehouse as late as last week over an abortion rights issue that has women’s rights groups and other advocates up in arms.
Ohio Attorney General and governor-elect Mike DeWine, also a Republican like the term-limited Kasich, says he would sign such type of heartbeat bill that Kasich twice vetoed into law if and when it comes before him.
“We know the fight for reproductive freedom will continue for many weeks, months and years to come,” said Kellie Copeland, executive director of Naral Pro-Choice Ohio.
Whether an Ohio law banning abortion that is contrary to Supreme Court rulings will pass constitutional muster remains to be seen.
Source: Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenews
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