Foes of abortion measure get a say

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Opponents of an Ohio bill banning abortions at the first detectable fetal heartbeat told senators Tuesday the measure is unconstitutional, radical and cruel and would effectively ban abortion in the state.

Interested parties, including clergy members and doctors, also spoke to a committee considering what’s referred to as the “heartbeat bill,” which would give Ohio the most-stringent abortion limit in the nation.

Kellie Copeland, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, called the bill an outrageous piece of legislation that “aims to roll back the right to privacy and virtually eliminate a woman’s right to choose.”

“This radical ban would outlaw abortion at a point in pregnancy when many women do not yet realize they are pregnant. This measure would virtually eliminate access to legal abortion in Ohio,” Copeland said in a statement prepared for the hearing. “It does not even provide exceptions for survivors of rape or incest, to protect the pregnant woman’s health or in cases of fatal fetal anomalies.”

After sitting idle for months, the bill debuted in the Senate last week, when proponents testified. Committee and floor votes could come this week. A third hearing is scheduled for today.