Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

"Heartbeat Bill" Introduced Again At Statehouse

Ohio Public Radio

A controversial abortion bill Governor John Kasich vetoed at the end of last year has been reintroduced in the Ohio legislature. Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles reports.

The so-called “heartbeat bill”, legislation that would ban abortions at the point a fetal heartbeat can be detected, has become a staple in the legislature in recent years. Last year, lawmakers narrowly passed the legislation, but Governor John Kasich vetoed it when it reached his desk. Now it’s been introduced in the House again. While it has two sponsors and 48 co-sponsors – which totals more than half the House – there’s no indication Kasich has changed his mind on the bill. And a few legislators who oppose abortion are concerned about the heartbeat bill, saying it was unconstitutional. Ohio Right to Life didn’t back the bill either, citing concerns over its constitutionality.

The Statehouse News Bureau was founded in 1980 to provide educational, comprehensive coverage of legislation, elections, issues and other activities surrounding the Statehouse to Ohio's public radio and television stations. To this day, the Bureau remains the only broadcast outlet dedicated to in-depth coverage of state government news and topics of statewide interest. The Bureau is funded througheTech Ohio, and is managed by ideastream. The reporters at the Bureau follow the concerns of the citizens and voters of Ohio, as well as the actions of the Governor, the Ohio General Assembly, the Ohio Supreme Court, and other elected officials. We strive to cover statehouse news, government issues, Ohio politics, and concerns of business, culture and the arts with balance and fairness, and work to present diverse voices and points of view from the Statehouse and throughout Ohio. The three award-winning journalists at the bureau have more than 60 combined years of radio and television experience. They can be heard on National Public Radio and are regular contributors to Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Marketplace. Every weekday, the Statehouse News Bureau produces in-depth news reports forOhio's public radio stations. Those stories are also available on this website, either on the front page or in our archives. Weekly, the Statehouse News Bureau produces a television show from our studios in the Statehouse. The State of Ohio is an unique blend of news, interviews, talk and analysis, and is broadcast on Ohio's public television stations. The Statehouse News Bureau also produces special programming throughout the year, including the Governor's annual State of the State address to the Ohio General Assembly and a five-part year-end review.
Related Content