Ohio Legislature Passes Pro-Life State Budget - Four Right to Life amendments included in final budget legislation

Ohio Legislature Passes Pro-Life State Budget
Four Right to Life amendments included in final budget legislation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:Rachel Schlater
DATE: Wednesday, June 29, 2011 PHONE:(614) 547-0099

(COLUMBUS) – Today the Ohio Legislature passed a state budget which includes multiple pro-life amendments. The state budget, House Bill 153, now advances to pro-life Governor John Kasich. Among other things, the state budget contains Ohio Right to Life amendments that will protect taxpayer dollars from paying for abortion.

The first amendment bans abortions from being performed in public hospitals. The second amendment prohibits abortion coverage in insurance plans of local public employees.

“These two pro-life amendments will ensure that Ohio taxpayer dollars are not funding abortion,” said Mike Gonidakis, executive director of Ohio Right to Life. “It is crystal clear that a vast majority of Ohioans oppose all forms of taxpayer funding of abortion.”

Additional pro-life amendments were also included. One measure requires the Ohio Department of Health to apply for federal abstinence education grants to reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies. The final pro-life amendment preserves the right of student groups to use and benefit from school funds and facilities, therefore protecting the rights of pro-life groups on college campuses.

House Bill 153 will be signed into law on June 30th by pro-life Governor John Kasich, who Ohio Right to Life fully expects to support each of these life-saving measures.

Ohio Right to Life expresses its sincere gratitude to Senate President Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond), SenatorShannon Jones (R-Springboro), Senator Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering), Senator Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton), along with Speaker of the House Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) and Representative Jim Buchy (R-Greenville) for their pro-life leadership in the General Assembly.