Women's Public Policy Network

Ohio

Stay engaged, involved, and up-to-date: 12/18/17 Week in Review

Friday, December 22nd, 2017

Stay engaged, involved, and up-to-date: In the weekly reviews from the Women’s Public Policy Network, we look back on last week’s highlights from the WPPN, share updates on bills affecting women that are moving at the Statehouse, showcase weekly news clips, and provide calls to action on bills pending in the Legislature. Sign up for our emails to receive these updates in your inbox every week!

 
As the 2017 legislative session came to an end, Ohio legislature passed HB214, known as the Down syndrome abortion ban, which was just signed into law by Governor Kasich earlier today. This is the 20th restriction to abortion and reproductive health passed into law since he took office in 2011. 
The latest analysis from our partner and coalition convener, Innovation Ohio Education Fund, looks at the relationship between public policies like these and their impact on women’s economic security. The research finds that “without support for women’s reproductive choices – access to contraception and abortion services and workplace policies that support pregnant women and working moms – women will never achieve full equality and the economic security for their families that comes with it.” Read the full report here. 
 
WHAT’S NEW IN THE NEWS FROM THIS WEEK

CDC word ban? The fight over seven health-related words in the president’s next budget
Science magazine, December 18, 2017

Vox, December 19, 2017

In Spite of Months of Talks, Unemployment Compensation Fund Fix Stalled Till the New Year
WVXU 91.7, December 19, 2017

‘Right to work’ in Ohio? GOP lawmaker wants voters to choose
Cincinnati Enquirer, December 19, 2017

Congress Refuses to Do Right by Children’s Health Care
The New York Times, December 20, 2017

Sweeping tax overhaul clears Congress
The Washington Post, December 20, 2017

For Foster Teens, Accessing Birth Control is an Uphill Battle
Rewire, December 20, 2017

Opinion: My Down syndrome child is not your pawn
Cincinnati Enquirer, December 21, 2017

Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 22, 2017
LOOKING AHEAD: PARTNER EVENTS THIS UPCOMING WEEK  

There are no partner events in this upcoming week. Visit our Partner Events Calendar for more details on future events hosted by our coalition partners across the state.
#OHLEG ALERT
We are tracking the progress of any state bills affecting women in the Ohio Legislature for the 132nd General Assembly. The legislature is on break until early January so we will not have any state legislative updates for a few weeks. Here is one update on a bill we are tracking that was signed into law by Governor Kasich today:
  • HB 214 (LaTourette, Merrin) – Down Syndrome Abortion Ban: This bill would charge a doctor with a fourth degree felony if they performed an abortion procedure for a woman if the reason for seeking to terminate the pregnancy is in part due to a Down syndrome diagnosis. There is an identical Senate bill moving through the legislature right now, as well. The bill was passed by the House and Senate before the end of the 2017 legislative session. It was signed into law by Governor Kasich today, December 22 and will be effective in 90 days.
We will keep tracking any new updates and will be sharing timely legislative updates on these and other women-centric legislation on Twitter using the #OHLeg hashtag. Follow us to stay up-to-date on what’s happening at the Statehouse.
RAISE YOUR VOICE TO STOP THE BANS
 
The Ohio legislature passed the Down syndrome abortion ban (HB214) out of the House and Senate during the last week of the legislative session for 2017. The legislation will charge a doctor with a fourth degree felony if they performed an abortion procedure for a woman if the reason for seeking to terminate the pregnancy is in part due to a Down syndrome diagnosis.
During a time when Ohio women and families are facing a complex prenatal diagnosis, lawmakers should not stand in the way of a health care decision that should, instead, be a decision informed by comprehensive medical information and made in consultation with a woman’s family and doctor.

The bill was signed into law by Governor Kasich earlier today. It is now the 20th restriction to abortion and reproductive health he has signed since taking office in 2011. 

Take action to call on your legislators to stop the bans:
  1. Find and contact your legislators, and urge them to stop advancing harmful restrictions to abortion and reproductive health and to oppose bills restricting access, including HB258 and SB145.
  2. Use this letter writing tool from our partners at Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio to urge your legislators to oppose HB258 and SB145, abortion bans still pending in the legislature