December 2, 2009 - This morning, the Ohio Health Committee heard opponent testimony against HB 293, the so-called "Ohio Prevention First Act." This bill has been introduced in the Ohio House as H.B. 293 by Rep. Tyrone Yates (D, Cincinnati) and in the Ohio Senate as S.B. 176 by Sen. Teresa Fedor (D, Toledo).
Among many objectionable aspects, HB 293 disregards conscience rights of pro-life health care providers, pharmacists, taxpayers, and religiously affiliated hospitals with its objective to promote advocacy and dispensing of the morning-after pill ("emergency contraception"), which in some cases acts as an abortifacient and kills a living human embryo by preventing implantation in the mother's womb.
Although HB 293 proponents claim the morning-after pill will reduce unintended pregnancies and abortions, a January 2007 study in Obstetrics & Gynecology by leading proponents of the drug found that increased access to "emergency contraception" had not reduced the rates of abortion or unintended pregnancy.
The State of Ohio should not coerce health care providers into violating their religious and moral convictions against ending a human life.
Note also that HB 293 further supports widespread abortion by seeking to overturn the current law that prohibits use of state "Women's Health Services" grants for abortion and abortion counseling and referral.
Current law gives a preference for awarding the grants to local health departments. Before this went into effect, about a million dollars per year of this funding went to leading abortion chain, Planned Parenthood, affiliates.
ACTION: Contact members of the Ohio Health Committee to OPPOSE HB 293, "Ohio Prevention First Act."
FURTHER INFORMATION:
- Ohio Right to Life on state-level efforts regarding "Prevention First:"
- LifeNews.com article on recent move to give Franklin County OH PP $50,000 for related sex education in the schools
- LifeSiteNews.com article from earlier this year on federal "Prevention First" efforts
- Article from American Life League last year, 2008, on federal level efforts; explanatory information still applicable
