Ohio 'heartbeat' abortion-bill vote delayed

COLUMBUS (AP) — A vote has been called off for now on an Ohio bill that, if enacted, would be the most-restrictive abortion law in America.

The House Health Committee decided against voting today on a proposal to outlaw abortions after the first medically detectable heartbeat. Chairman Lynn Wachtmann said it was “not quite ready.”

The anti-abortion group Faith2Action gave two pregnant women ultrasounds at an earlier hearing to allow lawmakers to see and hear the fetal hearts. Faith2Action director Janet Porter says she believes a vote will come next week.

Yet the bill’s future is uncertain.

Opponents say the so-called “heartbeat bill” would be unconstitutional. Republican House Speaker Bill Batchelder hasn’t said whether he supports the legislation. He says he wants to consider what the legal defense would be first.