Ohio Lawmakers Propose Bill Defunding Planned Parenthood
Ohio state lawmakers are pushing to enact legislation that prioritizes local health providers over Planned Parenthood and redirects taxpayer away from health services provided by abortion clinics.
The bill, introduced Tuesday, would restrict abortion clinics' access to state funding and is the latest attack against abortion providers in the state. Ohio lawmakers have already put forth a bill banning abortion after 20 weeks, providing that a doctor determine the fetus is viable outside of the womb. The measure was approved in the state Senate Wednesday.
The state Senate is also considering a heartbeat bill that bans abortion once a heartbeat is detected.
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In all, there are eight abortion-related pieces of legislation before the Ohio State General Assembly this year, the Columbus Business First journal reported.
Pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List is pleased with lawmakers' actions.
"We applaud Ohio for taking action to protect women from Planned Parenthood and its harmful practices," said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the SBA List.
The recently introduced Ohio bill could potentially add the Buckeye State to the growing number of states cutting either some or all funding for abortion providers, namely Planned Parenthood, out of its budget.
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels enacted a law barring federal tax dollars in the form of Medicaid payments from funding clinics that also provide abortions. Planned Parenthood of Indiana was forced to shut down nearly a quarter of its facilities as well as shorten its hour of operations in June.
Others states including New Jersey, Kansas, and Texas are also fighting to defund Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.
"Momentum is building as states across the country are listening to their constituents and bucking the federal government in order to stop taxpayers from having to pay for abortion," Dannenfelser said in a statement.
Planned Parenthood officials assert they are being unfairly attacked.
"For the last six months, we've really seen an unprecedented attack on women's health and contraceptive services,” said Paula Gianino, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri.
However, bill author state Sen. Kris Jordan highlighted in a memo that "abortion was a service that Planned Parenthood provided to 97.6 percent of their patients who reported themselves pregnant."
"Abortions kill innocent babies and abortion providers should not be subsidized by any government program," he stated.
The proposed bill stipulates that money redirected from abortion providers will be steered towards the hundreds of Ohio health centers that provide health care for women, their children and unborn children.
