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Gov. Mike DeWine Says He'll Sign Ban Abortion Bill

A photo of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine
KAREN KASLER
/
STATEHOUSE NEWS BUREAU
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine

Lawmakers are, once again, debating the contentious so called “Heartbeat Bill,” which would ban abortions at about six weeks when a fetal heartbeat can be detected. The bill was vetoed twice by former Gov. John Kasich, but now Gov. Mike DeWine says he’ll sign it. But one political strategist is floating another idea.

Democratic strategist Dale Butland says Republican lawmakers should put the bill on the statewide ballot to let voters decide.

“Before they require taxpayers to pay for the legal defense for something that is clearly unconstitutional and extreme, they ought to give voters the right to weigh in on the subject.”

Backers of the Heartbeat Bill say it could withstand a legal challenge now that the nation’s highest court has swung more conservative. None of the lawmakers are, at this point, entertaining that idea of putting it on the ballot. And NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio declined to comment on it.

Jo Ingles is a professional journalist who covers politics and Ohio government for the Ohio Public Radio and Television for the Ohio Public Radio and Television Statehouse News Bureau. She reports on issues of importance to Ohioans including education, legislation, politics, and life and death issues such as capital punishment. Jo started her career in Louisville, Kentucky in the mid 80’s when she helped produce a televised presidential debate for ABC News, worked for a creative services company and served as a general assignment report for a commercial radio station. In 1989, she returned back to her native Ohio to work at the WOSU Stations in Columbus where she began a long resume in public radio.