Ohio GOP Challenge Roe v. Wade

The Christian Tea Party power is playing out in many states, including Ohio where the November 2010 election placed Republicans in control, as the legislature begins with the most significant challenge ever to the Supreme Court 1973 ruling on abortion.



-- From "Ohio abortion ban could be most restrictive" by Karen Kasler, Statehouse Bureau Chief, WKSU (NPR) 2/9/11

Ohio could have the most restrictive law on abortion in the nation, if the so-called “Heartbeat Bill” passes. The measure would ban abortion after the first detectable fetal heartbeat, which can be as early as five weeks after conception. Sponsoring Rep. Lynn Wachtmann (watch-man) of Napoleon says other states will be watching the outcome of this bill, which could test the limits of nearly 40 years of case law on abortion.

Ohio Right to Life is on record as opposing the bill, saying it doesn’t stand a chance of being upheld as constitutional. It’s instead pushing a bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks – a point at which the antiabortion group says a fetus can live outside the body.

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From "Abortions would be costly, difficult to get under new bills" by Laura A. Bischoff, Dayton Daily News 2/12/11

With state government now firmly under Republican control, lawmakers are considering:

• Senate Bill 8 and House Bill 63. Requiring courts to ask teens who are seeking permission to have an abortion if they understand the possible physical and emotional complications.

• House Bill 79. Prohibiting health care plans that participate in the state insurance exchange from covering elective abortions.

• Banning abortions after a heartbeat can be detected, which can be as early as five weeks.

• House Bill 78 and Senate Bill 72. Banning abortions after 20 weeks gestation.

• House Bill 7. Banning abortions after 22 weeks gestation.

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From "OH Bill Aims to Ban Almost All Abortions" by Violet Ikonomova, WTAP TV-5 News (Parkersburg, WV) 2/10/11

Meanwhile pro-abortion groups like Planned Parenthood have come out against the bill. The head of the group's legislative arm in Ohio says it's obviously unconstitutional and if passed, would be tied up in litigation for years.

And some anti-abortionists share that sentiment.

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From "Ohio Abortion Proposal Challenges Roe v. Wade" by Jennifer Wishon, CBN News Washington Correspondent 2/10/11

In the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision, women have the right to an abortion until their fetus is viable or able to live outside the womb. It's only at the point of viability that states can restrict abortion under the ruling.

A constitutional challenge to Roe v. Wade is what many pro-life Americans want. The heartbeat bill in Ohio is one of a handful of measures moving through various state legislatures aimed at restricting abortions.

Whether the legislation . . . passes or not, newly elected Republicans have made it clear they intend to act on their pro-life principles.

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