The Republican War on Women: Ohio In Danger of Losing All Abortion Clinics

Ohio Governor John Kasich (R) approving the first draft of his state's new budget.

The draft includes new abortion restrictions and a Catch-22 for abortion providers. 

NOTE ALL THE WOMEN INVITED TO THE SIGNING.

This is the thirtieth in a series of articles on the subjects of women, abortion rights and the Republican Party. 

Republicans continue to say they don’t have to change their core principles, they only have to change the language they use to get their message out.  One perception they want to alter is the idea that they are running a “war on women”.  Looking at the news over the past few years, I’d say the Republican Party has a long way to go on this subject.

• Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky): “Talk about a manufactured issue.  There is no issue.” 
• RNC Chairman Reince Priebus:  “It’s a fiction.”

The Ohio Front 

the facts and commentary: New requirements and restrictions on abortion providers--inserted into a draft of Ohio's state budget at the last minute and approved by Governor (I Wanna Be President) John Kasich (R)--could result in the closing of all the abortion clinics in Ohio.

Opponents of HB 59 delivered 17,000 petitions to the Governor asking him to veto the abortion provisions.  Public Policy Polling reported that a recent poll showed 52% of Ohioans did not support the budget specifically because of its attack on reproductive rights.  Proving once again that majority opinion means nothing to Republicans, Governor Kasich chose to veto 22 amendments in the budget bill--not one of which pertained to abortion restrictions.

Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards said, "Politicians in Ohio knew they couldn't pass these unpopular measures if they played by the rules--that's why they (buried them) in the pages of a must-pass state budget."

While several Republican led states, including Ohio, have required abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at near-by hospitals, Ohio is making that requirement even more stringent with an approach that pushes the "we're only concerned about protecting women's health" argument beyond the bounds of credibilility.

Ohio's new regulations now forbid publicly funded hospitals from signing any admitting agreement with an abortion provider.  This leaves abortion providers with no choice but to approach Ohio's private hospitals to obtain the required admitting documents--and privately run hospitals are inevitably run by a faith-based organization such as the Catholic church and are unlikely to sign any agreement with an abortion clinic.  

Ohio is purposefully presenting the state's abortion providers with a cleverly crafted Catch-22.  Doctors can't partner with public hospitals--private hospitals won't partner with doctors--no partnership means no clinic.

At the same time, Ohio's new budget cuts funding for women's health centers--mainly aimed at Planned Parenthood; but having a huge effect on places like Family Health Services of East Central Ohio which will lose 43% of its operating budget.  This center, located in rural central Ohio provides breast exams, cancer screenings, tests for sexually transmitted diseases and prenatal care for 8000 Ohio women.

I do not understand how Governor Kasich and his Republican goons justify the choices they are making for Ohio's women-both pregnant and not pregnant.  The GOP seems willing to let women with breast or cervical cancer die under the auspices of their women's health ideals.  And John Kasich's tunnel vision apparently sees the loss of services for women who come to Family Health Services for prenatal care as collateral damage in the war against abortion rights.  The GOP's willingness to sacrifice some rural mothers-to-be in their fight to save another woman's fetus would seem to fly in the face of their "we're only doing this to protect women's health" argument, not that logic has ever played a prominent role in this war.

Other new anti-abortion provisions in the new budget allows welfare money to be funneled to unregulated crisis-pregnancy centers.  Can the legislature really not see the potential for corruption and waste here?  Anyone can now open one of these centers and gain state funds simply by sitting behind a desk and giving a pregnant woman a list of local adoption agencies.  Great gig, huh?

The new budget will also provide money for rape-crisis programs for the first time, but will prevent rape counselors from telling victims about abortion.  Ohio thinks a rape victim should keep that baby, put her life on hold for nine months while reliving the horror of her attack.   Really, Mr. Kasich, how, exactly is this supposed to be good for the rape victims mental and physical well-being?  

Abortion doctors will now be required to attempt to detect a fetal heart beat and report on the viability of the fetus at full term. Doctors who do not comply can face six months in jail.

Reggie Fields of the Ohio State Medical Association spoke of the new regulations:  "We are concerned any time the legislature moves beyond addressing the scope of medical practice to legislating the appropriateness of medical procedures.  In this case, we are most troubled by the threat of felony prosecution for physicians.  The OSMA has firm policy opposing any legislation that penalizes a physician for providing a legal standard of care."

Anti-abortion advocates have openly acknowledged that they are engaging in an "incremental approach" to banning all abortion in Ohio.  Kellie Copeland, executive director of Pro-Choice Ohio had this to say about their approach, "This won't make women stop getting abortions.  It just makes them more dangerous."

Recent news saw a report of a woman in Georgia being charged with murder after she went to a hospital following complications from her attempt to to self-abort using drugs she ordered on the internet. 

Under Republican "safety regulations" for women's health, we can only expect to see more of this.  Ask yourself, how safe is your daughter now?

The Republican War on Women is "fiction?"

WHAT YOU DO SPEAKS SO LOUDLY

THAT I CANNOT HEAR WHAT YOU SAY.