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Post by Smurfette Principle on Jun 28, 2011 22:46:44 GMT -5
It just got passed by the Ohio House of Representatives.Majority Republicans in the House and Senate approved sweeping restrictions on abortion rights today, including a far-reaching ban that those on both sides of the debate say would essentially outlaw all abortions.
House Bill 125 the so-called heartbeat bill would prohibit abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be medically detected, generally six to seven weeks into pregnancy and before many women realize they are pregnant.
The House approved the bill largely along party lines by a vote of 54 to 43, sending it to the Senate.
"For every battle weary pro-lifer who didn't see how children were going to be protected in our lifetime, come see what God is doing in Ohio," said Janet Folger Porter, former legislative director of Ohio Right to Life who led the push for the legislation.
The bill's sponsor, Rep. Lynn Wachtmann, R-Napoleon, said the bill would establish that life begins when a beating heart can be heard and dismissed widespread speculation that the legislation will be struck down as unconstitutional.
In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the landmark Roe v. Wade case that states could not ban abortions until a fetus is viable, generally around 24 weeks.
"It's blatantly unconstitutional. There is no question in the sponsor's mind. There is no question in the supporters' minds," said Jordan Goldberg, state advocacy counsel for the Center for Reproductive Rights in New York.
Ohio Right to Life shared similar concerns with lawmakers, urging them to support a less restrictive measure.
Lawmakers opposing the bill argued that government is ill equipped to make such personal decisions for women.
"Look around, women. You are surrounded by men making decisions about your future," said Robert F. Hagan, D-Youngstown. "Barefoot and pregnant, that's where they want you, raising the kids while we are making a living."
The House also approved, 64 to 32, legislation backed by Ohio Right to Life that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of gestation unless a physician performs required tests and determines the unborn child is not viable. The only exception under House Bill 78 is if the pregnant woman faces death or "serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of major bodily function."
In addition, the House approved House Bill 79 to prohibit health plans, which Ohioans will be able to purchase through an exchange the state must set up under the new federal health care law, from including abortion coverage. The bill was approved by a vote of 59 to 39.
Both bills now go to the Senate.
Two other anti-abortion measures were included the budget bill approved by the Senate today. One would prohibit insurance plans for state and local government employees from covering abortions and the other would prohibit public hospitals and clinics receiving state funding from performing abortions.
The House will vote on the budget bill today. The prospects of the other bills in the Senate are unclear. Fuck a duck with a stick. A stick covered in shit and set on fire.
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Post by ironbite on Jun 28, 2011 23:03:02 GMT -5
It'll be tossed out the first time it's enforced.
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Post by Thejebusfire on Jun 28, 2011 23:05:39 GMT -5
And what do these people plan to do with all these unwanted babies?
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Post by MaybeNever on Jun 28, 2011 23:07:14 GMT -5
Maybe. The ACLU will probably help fight it, but this is going to go to SCOTUS, and even with precedent sort of tepidly on the pro-choice side I don't trust them to reach any kind of common sense ruling.
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Post by Her3tiK on Jun 28, 2011 23:08:36 GMT -5
Now that's just cruel. Ducks can't even have abortions, why would you do such a thing to one?
On a more serious note, does anyone have the urge to protest this by smacking the Ohio legislature upside the head with a rusty coat hanger? Cuz that's what going to be providing abortions to their state now.
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Post by wmdkitty on Jun 28, 2011 23:14:54 GMT -5
Oh, for the love of... WHAT THE FUCK ARE THESE IDIOTS SMOKING?!
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Post by nightangel1282 on Jun 28, 2011 23:16:14 GMT -5
Hopefully these assholes will reconsider their decision when Back Alley Abortionists make a fortune doing illegal and unsupervised medical procedures for women who are desperate enough.
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Post by Smurfette Principle on Jun 28, 2011 23:18:52 GMT -5
Oh, for the love of... WHAT THE FUCK ARE THESE IDIOTS SMOKING?! I don't know. Is there anything that both saps your empathy and gives you delusions of competence? |
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Post by Smurfette Principle on Jun 28, 2011 23:19:34 GMT -5
Now that's just cruel. Ducks can't even have abortions, why would you do such a thing to one? Good point. Fuck these people with a stick covered in shit and set on fire. |
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Post by MaybeNever on Jun 28, 2011 23:19:58 GMT -5
Oh, for the love of... WHAT THE FUCK ARE THESE IDIOTS SMOKING?! I don't know. Is there anything that both saps your empathy and gives you delusions of competence? It's called "election to public office". A blight on our fair nation, it is. |
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Post by DeadpanDoubter on Jun 29, 2011 0:56:33 GMT -5
A.k.a. "Alexshim Syndrome". Fucking politicians.
Embryo/fetus =/= child. kthx idiots.
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Post by sylvana on Jun 29, 2011 1:17:48 GMT -5
In summary, it is illegal to get an abortion in Ohio any time after 6 weeks. However if you manage to cotton on that you are pregnant in time, you also will be forced to foot the bill entirely by yourself because not even medical insurance is allowed to cover this. I think they need to see this comic. I wonder if their bigotry will overcome their need to restrict women's rights farleftside.com/2010/11-17-2010.html |
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Post by Napoleon the Clown on Jun 29, 2011 2:28:18 GMT -5
And what do these people plan to do with all these unwanted babies? They don't care. |
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Post by Doctor Fishcake on Jun 29, 2011 4:52:46 GMT -5
Sickened by this. Absolutely sickened. Shit like this makes me hope it's true what they're saying that US global influence is on the wane. In fact, shit like this makes it all the more likely.
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Post by scotsgit on Jun 29, 2011 5:10:41 GMT -5
Hopefully these assholes will reconsider their decision when Back Alley Abortionists make a fortune doing illegal and unsupervised medical procedures for women who are desperate enough. No, because they are the kind of idiots that think that outlawing it means that it won't happen. Which shows which plane of reality they operate on. |
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