Kasich signs bill to prevent abortions after 20 weeks
When you put the GOP in charge you get defaults, goldbricking, and tons of hard right social legislation.
Gov. John Kasich has signed into law a ban on late-term abortions, ending the procedure about 20 weeks after conception.
Kasich was joined by Republican Rep. Kristina Roegner, the Akron-area Republican who sponsored the bill, and representatives of Ohio Right to Life during a private signing ceremony Tuesday. House Bill 78 will take effect in 90 days.
“By signing this critical pro-life legislation, Governor Kasich demonstrated to all Ohioans that the health and welfare of mothers and their unborn children are of paramount importance to the state of Ohio,” Mike Gonidakis, executive director for Ohio Right to Life, said in a released statement afterward. “According to the Department of Health, an abortion took place in Ohio last year when the baby was 35 weeks old. From now on, these babies and their mothers will be protected.”
HB 78 will block abortions in cases where an unborn child could survive outside of the womb, except in cases where the mother’s life is in danger.
A similar attempt by state lawmakers in the 1990s to ban late-term abortions was found to be unconstitutional; proponents believe the new law changes address the constitutional issues raised by the courts and will survive future legal challenges.
