Ohio is on the brink of having the most restrictive abortion ban in the nation.  This week, Ohio Senators will give a second hearing to the ‘heartbeat” bill, HB 125.  The bill would ban abortion at the first moment a fetal heartbeat could be detected – earlier than most women even know they are pregnant – with no exceptions for rape, incest, or to protect the health of the mother.

The bill easily passed the Ohio House this spring surrounded by one of the most outrageous media circuses the Statehouse has ever seen.  Two pregnant women were given ultrasounds during a hearing, thousands of red heart-shaped balloons and buttons have been delivered to legislators’ offices, and even an airplane-pulled banner circled the building.

All of this might be cute if the bill weren’t blatantly unconstitutional.  Proponents have openly admitted that the bill is a tool to try to overturn Roe.  The ensuing court battle would cost the state millions in a time when half a million Ohioans are unemployed.

Despite the massive media and fundraising drive backing the bill, we are fighting like mad to stop this proposal.  Planned Parenthood volunteers have been writing newspapers and calling legislators to voice their disapproval, and it appears they may be getting through.  On Friday, the conservative Cincinnati Inquirer published an editorial on the bill.  Their take: “Now’s not the time.”

We need your help to stop this assault on women.  If you’re in Ohio, please call the chairman of the Ohio Senate Health Committee, Sen. Scott Oelslager at (614) 466-0626.  Ask him to stop wasting taxpayer’s time and money with this unconstitutional bill and go back to work trying to fix the state’s economy.

Gabriel Mann
E-Organizer
Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Ohio