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After Ohio Voters Resoundingly Reject Extreme Six-Week Abortion Ban, GOP Politicians Get to Work on Total Abortion Ban Behind Closed Doors

December 19, 2023

Columbus, OH – After trying and failing twice to rip fundamental rights away from Ohio women this year, Ohio Republicans keep doubling down on their war on women. Yesterday, Morgan Trau of WEWS-TV reported anti-abortion activists are working behind closed doors with GOP politicians at the statehouse to introduce a total abortion ban, with no exceptions for rape or incest. The bill would also make having an abortion or taking an abortion pill a homicide. 

Passing the bill would overrule the will of Ohio voters, who defeated the six-week abortion ban in Ohio by 14 points, and the lead anti-abortion activist behind the bill admits the goal of the legislation is to “normalize the idea of a total ban.”  

“From Frank LaRose, Bernie Moreno and Matt Dolan to corrupt politicians at the statehouse, it’s clear Ohio Republicans will stop at nothing to overrule Ohio voters and continue their ongoing war on women. Make no mistake: abortion is on the ballot in 2024, and we must defeat any politician who wants to insert themselves into the private, personal medical decisions that should be made between a woman and her doctor,” said Matt Keyes, spokesperson for the Ohio Democratic Party. 

Every Republican running for U.S. Senate has said they would overrule Ohioans by voting for a national abortion ban:

  • Matt Dolan celebrated the overturning of Roe v. Wade, calling it “exciting.” Dolan said defeating the November amendment was a priority and said he would support a national abortion ban.

Republican politicians not only tried to take away abortion rights, they’ve supported spousal rape, cast doubt on a ten-year-old rape victim, called rape an ‘opportunity,’ and said they want to ‘go as far as we can’ to limit reproductive healthcare. It’s clear these politicians are disconnected from reality and hold extreme views that are dangerous for the future of our state. 

Read more from Morgan Trau HERE and below: 

  • Anti-abortion advocates say they are working with Ohio lawmakers to put forward a total abortion ban. This comes after the Ohio Supreme Court dismissed the state’s appeal to enforce a near-total abortion ban.
  • It’s happening behind the scenes. Right now, anti-abortion advocate Austin Beigel is working with lawmakers to introduce a total abortion ban.
  • It would create a total abortion ban, with an exception for the life of the mother. It would make the procedure or abortion pill a homicide.
  • The draft is currently being discussed in the “Pro-Life Caucus,” a group of 27 Republicans inside the Ohio House. There is at least one sponsor and several other cosponsors, according to Beigel.
  • Beigel knows this will be a legal challenge, but he is also trying to normalize the idea of a total ban. By continuing to introduce it, it may get passed further down the line, he argued.
  • “It would be going against the majority of the voters, yes, I fully acknowledge that,” Beigel responded. “Voters can decide to do things that are immoral and evil; That has been a deeply historical part of our country and the majority of people have desired evil at many times in our culture’s history.”

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