By Dave Andrusko
Both houses of the Ohio legislature have now passed the Down Syndrome Non-Discrimination Act.
On November 15, following quickly after the Senate Health, Human Services and Medicaid Committee voted in favor of SB 164, the full Senate did likewise on a vote of 20-12 vote.
The House has passed an identical bill 63-30.
If, as expected, Gov. John Kasich signs the bill, it would be illegal for abortionists to commit or attempt to commit an abortion based on a diagnosis of Down syndrome. Currently Indiana and North Dakota also ban abortions based on genetic anomalies.
SB 164 is Ohio Right to Life’s top legislative priority this year.
“We should not be making a judgment of one life being more valuable than another,” said bill sponsor Sen. Frank LaRose. “To me, it’s a question of medical ethics as much as what kind of society we want to live in.”
During an interview with WOSU radio, he said “Do we want in the state of Ohio to have people making a decision that someone is less valuable because of a chromosomal disorder that they have?”
Similar sentiments were expressed in the House. “Their right to life should be protected,” said Rep. Derek Merrin, a bill sponsor. “Individuals with Down syndrome are truly treasures.”
Added Rep. Sarah LaTourette, “I continue to say that this bill is about so much more than abortion. … I truly believe that it’s about discriminating against some of our most vulnerable, discriminating against an unborn child simply because they might have a Down syndrome diagnosis. That’s something that I find absolutely unacceptable.”
Pro-abortionists insisted banning these abortions “interferes with the patient-doctor relationship” and “discourages doctors from coming to the state.”
Prior to the vote in the Senate Health, Human Services and Medicaid Committee Larry and Jackie Keough spoke in favor of the bill, according to the Columbus Dispatch [www.dispatch.com/news/20171114/bill-to-ban-down-syndrome-abortions-in-ohio-headed-to-full-senate]. They were there with two of their daughters; one daughter has Down syndrome.
“We ask each of you to support SB 164 that would stop the genocidal practice of aborting unborn children with Down syndrome,” Jackie Keough said, Megan Henry of the Dispatch reported.“By doing so, this can be a critical step to eliminate abortion based on individual genetic makeup.”