‘Heartbeat bill’ divides groups against abortion

Associated Press

LEBANON, Ohio

An anti-abortion group in southwest Ohio has severed ties with a statewide anti-abortion group partly over a bill that would ban abortions in the state after the first detectable fetal heartbeat.

Warren County Right to Life said Monday that a primary reason for ending its association with Ohio Right to Life is the statewide group’s refusal to support the bill. The county group is joining the anti-abortion group Ohio ProLife Action that is pushing the bill.

Called the “heartbeat bill,” the proposed law would impose the nation’s most stringent abortion limit if enacted.

The measure is stalled in the Ohio Senate

Ohio Right to Life has said it fears a legal challenge could jeopardize other abortion limits in Ohio. Messages left for the statewide group were not immediately returned Monday.