The Ohio state legislature today passed a state budget which includes multiple pro-life amendments ensuring the state is not involved in abortion funding with taxpayer money.
The state budget, House Bill 153, now advances to pro-life Governor John Kasich. Among other things, the state budget contains Ohio Right to Life amendments that will protect taxpayer dollars from paying for abortion.
The first amendment bans abortions from being performed in public hospitals. The second amendment prohibits abortion coverage in insurance plans of local public employees.
“These two pro-life amendments will ensure that Ohio taxpayer dollars are not funding abortion,” said Mike Gonidakis, executive director of Ohio Right to Life. “It is crystal clear that a vast majority of Ohioans oppose all forms of taxpayer funding of abortion.”
Additional pro-life amendments were also included. One measure requires the Ohio Department of Health to apply for federal abstinence education grants to reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies. The final pro-life amendment preserves the right of student groups to use and benefit from school funds and facilities, therefore protecting the rights of pro-life groups on college campuses.
“Abstinence education taught by our pro-life educators reduces teen pregnancy. These efforts have resulted in a decrease in teen abortions in Ohio, having a dramatic impact,” Gonidakis said.
“I am pleased that the Ohio House budget bill once again places a priority on abstinence education,” added Valerie Huber, Executive Director for the National Abstinence Education Association. “Passage of this measure assures that students in Ohio will again receive the benefits of this important risk avoidance message. We appreciate Ohio Right to Life’s support for this measure that returns a state priority on abstinence education in Ohio.”
House Bill 153 will be signed into law on June 30th by pro-life Governor John Kasich, who Ohio Right to Life fully expects to support each of these life-saving measures.
Ohio Right to Life expresses its sincere gratitude to Senate President Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond), Senator Shannon Jones (R-Springboro), Senator Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering), Senator Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton), along with Speaker of the House Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) and Representative Jim Buchy (R-Greenville) for their pro-life leadership in the General Assembly.
The passage of the budget comes after state House passage of three pro-life bills, including an abortion ban, ban on late-term abortions, and a bill to stop abortion funding in Ohio via the state exchange created under Obamacare. https://www.lifenews.com/2011/06/28/ohio-house-passes-ban-on-abortions-late-term-abortions/
