reproductive rights
As abortion rights amendment takes place in Ohio Constitution, advocates look to future
Thursday marked the official date that the reproductive rights amendment, approved overwhelmingly by voters in November as Issue 1, took its place in the Ohio Constitution. The amendment marks a “beacon of hope” and a representation of what Ohio voters can do, according to Dr. Marcela Azevedo, a leader from Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights […]
As potential hurdles to abortion amendment proposed, advocates ready to keep up the fight
The legislative back-and-forth regarding reproductive rights continues to sow uncertainty in Ohio, but advocates who worked to get a constitutional amendment in place say are ready to continue the fight. Shortly after Issue 1 passed with almost 57% of the vote in the November general election, Republican legislators were already pledging to fight against the […]
Ohio Senate GOP floats idea of 15-week abortion ban despite voters saying no
The Ohio Senate president has floated the idea of a 15-week abortion ban following voters decisively choosing to keep lawmakers out of their reproductive care. The debate over Issue 1 continues at the Statehouse. Some fringe and alt-right Republican House representatives are infuriated with voters — so much so that they are threatening to alter […]
Pumping the brakes: Ohio House Speaker dismisses effort to limit court jurisdiction on Issue 1
Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens threw cold water on a bid to thwart the recent abortion rights amendment Issue 1. Instead of attempting to deny the courts’ jurisdiction or rushing to the ballot with a repeal effort, Stephens argued lawmakers should focus on maternal and early childhood care. Despite the speaker’s measured response, Democrats remain […]
First anti-abortion policy post-Issue 1 enters Ohio Senate
Legislation that would give tax credits for donations to “pregnancy resource centers” which do not advise individuals on abortion was introduced in the Ohio Senate this week. State Sen. Sandra O’Brien, R-Ashtabula, brought Senate Bill 159 to the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday. The bill seeks to allow a tax credit for those who donate […]
Ohio Republicans weigh response after losing at the ballot box on abortion, marijuana
Lawmakers are back to work this week, and Ohio Republicans are wrestling with the fallout of last week’s passage of Issue 1. In any other circumstance, a 13-point victory amounts to voters sending a clear message. But when it comes to the reproductive rights amendment, some right-wing lawmakers aren’t listening. On the heels of Issue […]
Mapping the Issues: How Ohio’s ballot measures stack up against recent elections, one another
Last week’s election marks a significant victory for reproductive rights and recreational marijuana advocates. In both cases, support for those issues has traditionally aligned with left of center voters, but Tuesday’s results didn’t fit that model. In a state that has taken a hard right turn, two seemingly liberal ballot measures easily out-performed former President […]
Ohio Democrats hope to seize on Issue 1 success, announce reproductive health care bills
Hoping to follow the success Issue 1 had at the polls enshrining reproductive care in Ohio’s constitution, Democratic state representatives wasted no time in proposing legislation to repeal the six-week abortion ban and eliminate various other restrictions. State Reps. Anita Somani and Beth Liston, both physicians, said the plans they have under the “Reproductive Care […]
Abortion is now a constitutional right in Ohio. But the work isn’t done.
The celebration of the passage of Issue 1 in Ohio went long into the night, but Wednesday morning, abortion rights advocates were back at work on next steps. Issue 1 passed with 56.62% of the vote on Tuesday in unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State’s office. Of the 3.86 million votes cast across […]
Pastors engage congregations on Issue 1 as Election Day approaches
With the general election Tuesday, advocates and opponents of state Issue 1 are making their last pleas to the public. On Nov. 7, voters will have their say as to whether abortion and other reproductive rights will be inserted into the Ohio Constitution. The moral and political battles among those who believe the government should […]
What will Ohio look like if Issue 1 fails?
Next week, Ohio voters will go to the polls to vote to establish a state constitutional right for residents to make reproductive decisions about abortion, contraception, and miscarriage care. In the wake of the decision made by the U.S. Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization to overturn the court’s previous opinion of […]
Ohio Issue 1 asks voters if health care should be left to patients and physicians, or politicians
Ohioans have a little less than a week to vote on Issue 1, which will encode Roe-like, pre-viability abortion rights in the Ohio Constitution. With opponents kicking up a great deal of misinformation dust, we need to zoom out to see the bigger picture. Clarity, after all, is a cornerstone of democratic life. Americans need […]