Planned Parenthood Action Fund Condemns Anti-Women’s Health Budget Signed by Governor John Kasich
For Immediate Release: July 1, 2013
NEW YORK — Planned Parenthood Action Fund condemned Governor John Kasich, who over protests from thousands of Ohioans statewide, signed several anti-women’s health provisions into law today. Some of the provisions in the budget, including a provision designed to block funds for preventive health care at Planned Parenthood health centers in Ohio, are similar to bills that were defeated last legislative session. In addition, a mandatory ultrasound provision was sneaked into the budget by a closed-door committee earlier this week after all public hearings had concluded. A poll released this week showed that more than half of Ohioans oppose the anti-women’s health provisions in the budget.
Statement from Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Action Fund:
“After signing seven restrictions on women’s health already, it is appalling to see Governor Kasich sign into law several more today. Like Governor Perry in Texas, politicians in Ohio knew they couldn’t pass these unpopular measures if they played by the rules — that’s why they tried to bury these provisions in the pages of a must-pass state budget.
“If they thought no one was looking, Ohioans proved they were wrong. Texas lit a fuse — people all across the state descended on Columbus this week and organized on social media to force politicians to hear the voices of women’s health supporters demanding Governor Kasich to line item veto these provisions that will hurt women and endanger their safety.
“The fight in Ohio is not over, with extreme bills still pending in the legislature. As long as politicians continue to introduce out-of-touch bills that further restrict women’s health care in Ohio, we will fight for Ohio women. We are all better off when women and their doctors — not politicians — are the ones making medical decisions.”
BACKGROUND
- Women’s health supporters in Ohio turned out in droves to voice their opposition to the legislature’s attacks on Ohio women, with more than a hundred people demonstrating at the capitol this week. These supporters delivered 17,000 petition signatures from Ohioans calling on Governor Kasich to veto.
- Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio organized supporters, who placed more than 1,450 calls to Governor Kasich, with countless more organizing on social media placing calls to Kasich asking him to #veto4women.
- The attacks on women’s health in Ohio have been so unpopular that more than 40 Planned Parenthood patients, supporters and volunteers testified before the House and Senate to demand better from their state legislators.
- Governor Kasich has signed seven abortion restrictions since 2011, and on top of that he appointed the director of Ohio Right to Life to the state’s Medical Board.
- As part of the “Gynoticians” campaign, the Action Fund and Planned Parenthood advocacy organizations across the country are urging supporters to sign a petition revoking the Gynotician’s license from politicians who want to restrict or eliminate access to women’s health care. The Action Fund has also created a new twitter handle, @DrPolitician, to highlight the beliefs of Gynoticians. You can view the petition here.
- Several leading national Republicans have come out against recent political attacks on women’s health in Congress and in the states, including Republican Representative Charlie Dent (R-PA) who said “the stupidity is simply staggering,” and former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, who asked “Why are we having this discussion? As a pro-life Republican, this is not something that’s part of the national debate right now.”