The Ohio House has approved the controversial 'heartbeat bill' that bans abortion at the point a fetal heartbeat is detected.
Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles reports.
Republican Representative Christina Hagan, sponsor of what is called the “heartbeat bill” testified for it while wearing her twin infants in a sling across her chest.
“Motherhood isn’t easy but it’s necessary. It’s the reason every one of us are here today. It’s the reason every one of us have a living, beating heart. (baby cries)
The bill bans abortion as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, with no exceptions for rape, incest or health of the woman. Two other states have passed similar bans, and even some abortion opponents, like Ohio Right to Life, have questioned the bills’ constitutionality. The bill passed two years ago but Governor John Kasich, who has signed 20 bills restricting abortion during his eight years in office, vetoed it. The bill did not pass this time by a veto-proof margin, but if new lawmakers bring it up again once they are seated in January, incoming Governor Mike DeWine has said he supports the ban.
