By Dave Andrusko
Ohio Gov. John Kasich today signed SB 127, called the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. His signature raises to 15 the number of states that protect unborn babies capable of experiencing pain from the excruciating agony of abortion.
Such a law is already on the books in 14 states— Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Mike Gonidakis, President of Ohio Right to Life, said S.B. 127 “will save hundreds of unborn lives each year.”
Gov. Kasich vetoed H.B. 493, commonly known as the Heartbeat Bill. H.B. 493 would ban abortions once the baby’s heartbeat is detected.
According to the Associated Press
Kasich said the heartbeat provision would have been struck down based on federal court rulings on similar measures elsewhere. Enacting the law would also invite challenges to current Ohio abortion prohibitions and would mean costly litigation.
“The State of Ohio will be the losing party in that lawsuit and, as the losing party, the State of Ohio will be forced to pay hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to cover the legal fees for the pro-choice activists’ lawyers,” Kasich said.
“Therefore, this veto is in the public interest,” the governor said.
With regard to the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, Public radio station WVXU quoted former Ohio Supreme Court Justice and current Republican house member Bob Cupp, who said there are no questions about its constitutionality. “In my judgment, it is not improbable that the U.S. Supreme Court will, in fact, uphold the 20 week limitations on abortions once it gets the case.”
Public opinion is strongly behind the pain-capable bill. As we reported on November 21, the polling company, inc./WomanTrend found almost two-thirds support for the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act–64%–to only 28% who were opposed.
Among his commitments to pro-lifers, President-elect Donald Trump has promised to sign the National Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.
Support for the bill in the new poll extended across all demographic and geographic boundaries. For example
· Millennial voters 78% support
· Women voters 67% support
· African Americans 70% support
· Hispanics 57 % support