Ohio State Senate Votes to Defund Planned Parenthood
The Ohio Senate on Wednesday moved to cut funding for Planned Parenthood within the state.
In a 22-8 vote that fell on party lines, the State Senate passed a bill that aims to strip Planned Parenthood of $1.3 million in state funding, reports Cleveland.com. The vote marked the second time the chamber has passed such a bill this session.
However, because senators amended the bill earlier in the day, the House must authoritize the changes before it can be sent to Republican Gov. John Kasich, who will likely sign it into law. House reps, however, will have to wait weeks to vote on it since the next House meeting is scheduled for Feb. 9.
Under House Bill 294, abortion providers and entities that contract with abortion providers would be blocked from receiving federal and state dollars. Instead, the bill's co-sponsors, Democratic Rep. Bill Patmon and Republican Rep. Margaret Conditt, say the money should be allocated towards community health centers and other agencies.
According to Republican Sen. Shannon Jones, the money will go to clinics that offer more comprehensive health care while an amendment to the bill directs $250,000 toward infant mortality prevention.
"We aren't eliminating money for women and women's health," Jones said. "We're actually enhancing by directing those resources to some of those things we're trying to build in this state."
However, opponents argue that a number of those centers cannot fill the gap to provide women's health-care services offered at Planned Parenthood. Others questioned the capacity of federally qualified health-care centers or pregnancy crisis centers to take on Planned Parenthood clientele, reports The Columbus Dispatch.
"I'm not really sure we have the capacity in those rural communities to pick up the slack, even if it goes to the county health department," said Democratic Sen. Capri Cafaro.
In addition, NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, which fights for women reproductive rights, called the bill a "health care time bomb."
"John Kasich must veto this bill, or he admits he is willing to destroy public health goals in a spiteful attempt to punish Planned Parenthood," NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Executive Director Kellie Copeland said in a statement.
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