'Heartbeat Bill' Debate Continues In Ohio

Janet Porter of Faith2Action, and the author of the controversial 'heartbeat bill', said she was appalled at what happened in an Ohio senate committee earlier this week. She was not upset about the testimony of Planned Parenthood or the ACLU, but by Ohio Right To Life which is the official anti-abortion group in the state.

"The Right to Life group came and said they do not support the 'heartbeat bill.' They support gutting the 'heartbeat bill' making it informed consent only," said Porter on ONN's Capitol Square.

The war between Porter and Ohio Right to Life has simmered all year, reported ONN's Jim Heath.

Republican senators on the fence now must determine which direction to go, with the ACLU watching closely.

"Pass either 125 or 79 or both of them and we will meet you in court," said Gary Daniels of the ACLU.

House Bill 125, called the 'heartbeat bill', would ban abortion at the point a fetus' heartbeat can be detected. House Bill 79 bars Ohioans from purchasing health insurance which includes abortion coverage. 

Daniels said a watered-down 'heartbeat bill', or another bill that would strip away a right to choose abortion coverage under the new health care law, will trigger legal action.

"The legal strategy is going to develop over time as the bills do.  These bills can still be amended, they're not signed into law yet," said Daniels.

Pro choice groups have been outgunned at the statehouse this session with the GOP in control of both the House and Senate.

But Kellie Copeland of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio said they'll use the abortion issue to attract moderate voters next fall.

"Last fall, people voted on jobs and the economy. They've gotten a war on women. I mean we've had a record number of anti-abortion bills passed in this legislature," said Copeland.

Porter said lawsuits shouldn't stop lawmakers from committing to the bill, even if it means years of litigation all the way to the Supreme Court.

"It's no secret that any law we have ever passed has been challenged by the ACLU and Planned Parenthood, the group, the gambit. It's no shock," said Porter.

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