Ohio Republicans Try to Change Rules to Defeat Abortion Rights Amendment
Ohio Republicans are attempting to change the rules in order to defeat an amendment that would protect abortion rights in the state. The amendment, which would enshrine the right to an abortion in the state constitution, has been proposed by a coalition of reproductive rights groups and is set to go before voters in November.
The proposed amendment, known as the Ohio Human Rights and Reproductive Freedom Act, would guarantee the right to an abortion and protect access to contraception and other reproductive health services. It would also prohibit the state from interfering with a person’s decision to have an abortion, and would prevent the state from passing laws that restrict access to abortion.
However, Ohio Republicans are attempting to change the rules in order to defeat the amendment. They are proposing a new law that would require a two-thirds majority vote in both the state House and Senate in order to pass any amendment to the state constitution. This would make it much more difficult for the reproductive rights coalition to get the necessary votes to pass the amendment.
The proposed law is being pushed by Ohio House Speaker Bob Cupp, who has said that the amendment would “undermine the sanctity of life.” However, reproductive rights advocates argue that the amendment is necessary to protect the rights of Ohioans to make their own decisions about their reproductive health.
“Abortion is a deeply personal decision that should be made by a woman and her doctor, not politicians in Columbus,” said Kellie Copeland, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio. “This amendment would ensure that Ohioans have the right to make their own decisions about their health care, without interference from the government.”
The proposed amendment has already faced significant opposition from anti-abortion groups, who have launched a campaign to defeat it. They argue that the amendment would allow for late-term abortions and would make it more difficult for the state to regulate abortion clinics.
However, reproductive rights advocates say that these claims are false and that the amendment would simply protect the rights of Ohioans to make their own decisions about their reproductive health.
The fight over the Ohio Human Rights and Reproductive Freedom Act is just the latest battle in the ongoing fight over abortion rights in the United States. With the Supreme Court set to hear a major abortion case in the coming months, the future of reproductive rights in the country is uncertain. However, advocates say that they will continue to fight for the right to access safe and legal abortion, no matter what obstacles are put in their way.