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Columbus, Ohio- Ahead of the two-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs vs Jackson Women’s Health Organization, here’s a look at what Republicans have been saying about abortion after Ohio voted overwhelmingly to enshrine reproductive rights in the state constitution.

• Bernie Moreno bragged that he is “100% pro-life with no exceptions, supports a national abortion ban and voted to ban abortion without exceptions for rape or incest by voting against issue one. He also cheered the Dobbs decision, calling it a “monumental victory.”

• During his time in the statehouse, Derek Merrin was instrumental in the passage of Ohio’s six week abortion ban, and even went as far as to co-sponsor legislation that would criminalize women for having an abortion. Meanwhile, he’s running in a district that overwhelmingly voted to restore reproductive rights in Ohio’s constitution. 

• Orlando Sonza has repeatedly supported a national abortion ban and said that the United States should be a “place where there’s no abortion.” However, following the passage of issue one, he has repeatedly lied to voters about his views that he knows are too extreme for OH-1. When his constituents overwhelmingly voted to enshrine abortion rights in Ohio’s constitution, he called it a “sad day.”

• Kevin Coughlin has long held extreme views on abortion, even bragging that he “co-sponsored or voted for every allowable Roe v Wade state restriction.” He also voted to restrict access to medication abortion such as Mifepristone which is still isn’t available in Ohio stores due to his extremist policies.

• Despite having previously scolded other judges for having opinions on cases that they could rule on, Republican Supreme Court candidate Megan Shanahan boasted about receiving an endorsement from Cincinnati Right to Life. Clearly, the rules don’t apply to her.

• And we can’t forget about last August, where Frank LaRose and his fellow Republicans called a special election in an attempt to undermine Ohio’s democracy that was “100% about abortion” rather than allowing voters to choose to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions, only to be overwhelmingly defeated at the polls.

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Columbus, OH – After Bernie Moreno was caught “welcoming” the support of Tony George – a “big player” in the FirstEnergy scandal which led to a $1.3 billion bailout “that fell on the backs of… everyday Ohioans” – new reporting details Moreno’s connections to the scheme, including  “accept[ing] a large donation” from another individual involved in the largest corruption scandal in Ohio state history.

WATCH MORE FROM WKYC’s OHIO HAS ISSUES

Marty Schalden, Ohio Capital Journal: “Well, so now, and I guess it was about a month ago, maybe a little bit more, there was a fundraiser being held…”

Stephanie Haney, WKYC: “And that fundraiser was hosted for candidate Bernie Moreno, correct?”

Marty Schalden, Ohio Capital Journal: “Yes, but who should be a co-host of this [Moreno] fundraiser but Tony George, who wasn’t just somebody who was sort of, you know, elliptically involved in the House Bill Six matter. He was in the center of some of these relationships through the whole thing.”

Marty Schalden, Ohio Capital Journal: “When I approached his Communications Director, Moreno’s Communications Director with this, they wouldn’t comment on the record… They wouldn’t say yes, we knew that Tony George was involved with House Bill Six; no, we didn’t. They wouldn’t answer whether, knowing now that Tony George was involved with House Bill Six, that Bernie would give back the $2,500 that he received from Tony George, or donate it to charity…”

SEE ALSO: NEW: Moreno “Welcoming Big Player’s Support” In FirstEnergy Scandal That Cost “Everyday Ohioans”

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Columbus, OH – Ahead of the Dobbs anniversary next week, a new, 30-second digital ad running today spotlights Bernie Moreno’s support for a national abortion ban that would overturn the will of Ohioans who overwhelmingly voted to protect reproductive rights last year.

The ad, running on Facebook with a four-figure spend behind it, shows Moreno’s position in his own words: noting that he is “100% pro-life without exceptions,” called the overturning of Roe v. Wade a “monumental victory,” and opposes guaranteeing a woman’s right to access contraception, including birth control pills.

“Ohioans will know that Moreno would overturn the will of Ohioans who voted to protect abortion rights and contraception access last year and that he is out-of-step with the majority of Ohioans who support these decisions being made between a woman and her doctor,” said ODP spokesperson Katie Smith.

WATCH THE AD HERE

Read more:

Punchbowl: Ohio news
Max Cohen
June 21, 2024

• The Ohio Democratic Party is lauding an ad buy on Facebook highlighting GOP Senate candidate Bernie Moreno’s anti-abortion rights stance.

• Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and his allies are also going to make abortion a top issue in his competitive reelection race.

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Ahead Of Two-Year Dobbs Anniversary, Ohioans Call Out Bernie Moreno For Supporting A National Abortion Ban

Columbus, OH – Ahead of the two-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision next week, today three Ohio doctors denounced Bernie Moreno’s support for a national abortion ban that would overturn the will of Ohioans who voted to protect reproductive rights last year. Moreno has previously said he is “100% pro-life with no exceptions” and “absolute pro-life, no exceptions” even in cases of rape, incest, or the life of the mother.

“Time and time again, Moreno has made it clear he wants to pass a national abortion ban and take away our reproductive rights,” said Dr. Lauren Beene, Co-Founder of Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights. “Whether it is supporting a national abortion ban, opposing guaranteeing a woman’s right to access contraception, or opposing federal protections for IVF, Moreno is out-of-step with the majority of Ohioans who believe that these healthcare decisions should be between a woman and her doctor.”

“Ohioans overwhelmingly voted to protect reproductive rights last fall, but now Bernie Moreno thinks that he and other politicians should be the ones making Ohio women’s healthcare decisions,” said retired pediatrician Dr. Arthur Lavin. “Reproductive rights are at stake again in this election – Moreno wants to overturn the will of the 2.2 million Ohioans who voted to protect access to abortion and contraception and Ohioans need to know we can’t trust him.”

“As a physician and abortion care provider, I have seen firsthand how dangerous restrictive abortion bans – like the kind Bernie Moreno is pushing for – are for my patients here in Ohio,” said Dr. Catherine Romanos. “Bernie Moreno says he opposes all exceptions and will vote for a national abortion ban that would put my patients and all Ohio women in jeopardy.”

What Ohioans Need To Know About Bernie Moreno’s Support For A National Abortion Ban

• Bernie Moreno supports a national abortion ban that would overturn the will of Ohioans who voted overwhelmingly to protect abortion rights last year.

• Moreno said he is “100% pro-life with no exceptions” and that he is “absolute pro-life, no exceptions.”

• Moreno opposes guaranteeing a woman’s right to access contraception, including birth control pills. Moreno opposes federal protections for IVF and called IVF a “non-issue” a week after the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that prompted clinics to halt IVF treatments.

• Moreno voted to ban abortion without exceptions for rape or incest in Ohio last year by voting against Issue 1. 

• Moreno celebrated the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, calling it a “monumental victory.”

Click here to view a recording of today’s press conference for media use.

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Columbus, OH – This week, the Organizing For Ohio coordinated campaign launched its voter access volunteer team to protect Ohioans’ right to vote ahead of November’s election. The voter access volunteer coalition will oversee a number of efforts – ranging from a voter protection hotline that Ohioans can call with questions, to poll observing on Election Day – to protect Ohioans’ voting rights.

Yesterday, Organizing For Ohio hosted a virtual kickoff with voter access volunteers and Senator Sherrod Brown to highlight the importance of this work.

“With so much at stake in Ohio in 2024 – from re-electing Sherrod Brown and our U.S. House candidates to flipping the Ohio Supreme Court and picking up seats in Ohio’s legislature – we are working hard to make sure every Ohioan can have their voice heard in our election,” said Ohio Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Walters.

“Our voter access team will serve as the last line of defense for Ohio voters by protecting the right to vote and helping ensure every Ohioan’s voice is heard. We’re grateful to our volunteer team for giving their time and energy on behalf of Ohio voters with such high stakes in 2024,” said Mariah Gould, Organizing For Ohio Coordinated Campaign Director.

Ohioans interested in volunteering with “Organizing For Ohio” should sign up here.

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