Ohio bill would halt public funds paying for abortion services

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Republican lawmakers are trying to stop any state funding to entities that provide or support elective abortions.

House Bill 475, sponsored by Representative Josh Williams (R-Sylvania), says “Funds of the state shall not be given directly or indirectly to any entity that directly or indirectly provides elective abortion or elective abortion services, including but not limited to, transportation, housing wage reimbursement, or paid time off directly related to providing for an elective abortion.”

“It’s supposed to allocate a clear intention that we’re not supposed to be funding elective abortions,” Williams said. “Period.”

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Williams said this stems from local governments, like Cleveland and Columbus, funding these services back when Roe v. Wade was overturned, and the state had a six-week abortion ban.

“So many people were helped by those funds and being able to access the healthcare they needed,” Deputy Director of Pro-Choice Ohio Jamie Miracle said.

Six months ago, Ohio voters passed a constitutional amendment to protect the right to an abortion up to the point of fetal viability. Language in the amendment says you cannot punish or discriminate against an entity that helps support individuals getting that care.

“This is exactly doing that, it is punishing local governments for supporting their residents,” Miracle said. “Those cities should be celebrated for making sure their residents got access to the healthcare they needed and instead this legislature is once against going against the will of the people of Ohio.”

But Williams said he does not think this bill infringes on any right and pointed to other constitutional rights as an example.

“Just because we are simply saying we are not going to pay for it doesn’t mean that you don’t have a constitutional right to go and get it,” Williams said. “No voter is going to pay for me to get a new pistol because I have a Second Amendment right.”

In the Ohio House Government Oversight Committee, where the bill is being heard, some representatives expressed concerns that this legislation may cut off funding to places like hospitals.

“That’s not the intention of the bill,” Williams said. “We are more than willing to tighten up language, put exceptions in the bill to make sure it doesn’t affect our hospitals at all.”

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“Whether it is his intent or not, his bill states that these entities will lose funding,” Miracle said. “So, there are much broader implications to this bill than what he tries to put forward.”

Williams said the bill also follows Medicaid guidelines in defining elective abortions. He said he is not trying to redefine what that, or a medically necessary one, is, but following definitions that have not fallen to any legal scrutiny.

“Why would that change now that we institute a new statute that follows the same guidelines,” Williams said.

As for leadership, Speaker of the Ohio House Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) said making sure it complies with the constitutional amendment is “extremely important,” but he does agree with the premise of the bill.

“It’s one of things that, if somebody wants to have an abortion the constitution allows it, but to require taxpayers to pay for it, I personally don’t agree with that,” he said.

And Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said there is no question that her caucus will not support this legislation.

“Any restrictions direct, indirect, on patient access to medically necessary care, which includes abortion services, we are going to be very opposed to,” she said.

The bill has only had one hearing so far and awaits both opponent and proponent testimony.

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