Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine called for voters to reject a proposal that would allow virtually unlimited abortion in the Buckeye State, as the campaign on the abortion-rights measure Issue 1 heats up ahead of next month’s election.
The Republican governor and first lady Fran DeWine were featured in a multimillion-dollar ad buy released Wednesday by Protect Women Ohio saying Issue 1 “is just not right for Ohio.”
“Everywhere we go, voters tell us they’re confused about Issue 1,” Mr. DeWine says in the 30-second spot. “So Fran and I have carefully studied it.”
Issue 1 would enshrine “reproductive freedom” in the state constitution, banning restrictions on abortion before viability, or about 24 weeks gestation, and allowing a physician to determine whether to approve an abortion after viability.
“Issue 1 would allow an abortion at any time during a pregnancy, and it would deny parents the right to be involved when their daughter is making the most important decision of her life,” Mrs. DeWine says.
Mr. DeWine concludes: “I know Ohioans are divided on the issue of abortion. But whether you’re pro-life or pro-choice, Issue 1 is just not right for Ohio.”
The governor’s decision to get involved in the Nov. 7 race comes with millions of dollars in ads for and against Issue 1 blanketing the airwaves in Ohio, the latest target for pro-choice groups hoping to keep up their winning streak in state ballot campaigns following the fall of Roe v. Wade.
Early voting in the off-year election, which also features a marijuana legalization measure, began Wednesday.
Ohio Governor @MikeDeWine and First Lady @FranDeWine reviewed Issue 1 and have a message for all Ohioans:
— Protect Women Ohio (@ProtectWomenOH) October 11, 2023
“Whether you’re pro-life or pro-choice, Issue 1 is just not right for Ohio.”
“Issue 1 just goes too far.” pic.twitter.com/nOY9bD6KiP
Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights released a hard-hitting ad showing a Columbus couple, Beth and Kyle Long, saying they had to go out of state to obtain an abortion after their unborn daughter was found to have a deadly anomaly at 18 weeks’ gestation.
“We had to go out of state in order to get the care that I needed,” Mrs. Long says in the 30-second spot. “Because the law in Ohio is broken, voting yes on Issue 1 is the only way to fix this.”
Ohio currently allows abortions through 22 weeks’ gestation. A fact-check by Ethics and Public Policy Center fellow Mary FioRito said the main issue is that Ohio law prohibits state health insurance plans from paying for most abortions and that Mrs. Long works for the state.
“To be sure, the Longs’ choice was a heart-wrenching one,” Ms. FioRito said in a Washington Examiner op-ed. “But it was not one that was necessitated by Ohio’s abortion law, but rather by insurance coverage restrictions on elective procedures.”
Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights said Issue 1 is needed to stop a heartbeat law signed in 2019 from taking effect. The measure barring most abortions after six to eight weeks’ gestation is pending in the courts.
Protect Women Ohio took on the abortion industry with an ad pointing out that Ohio’s Dr. Martin Haskell, who helped pioneer partial-birth abortions, contributed $100,000 to pass Issue 1.
“Issue 1 would guarantee Haskell and men like him the constitutional right to perform unlimited late-term abortions,” said the ad called “He’s Back.” “Vote no on Issue 1.”
The Catholic Conference of Ohio and a coalition of Black pastors have come out against Issue 1, prompting the pro-choice campaign to counter with an ad featuring First Congregational United Church of Christ Rev. Tim Ahrens.
“As a pastor, I’ve counseled families on the most important personal decisions, even abortion,” Mr. Ahrens said as the ad panned a church’s stained-glass windows. “Abortion is a private family decision. Government needs to stay out of family decision-making.”
Issue 1 would establish a constitutional right to abortion by saying the state may not “directly or indirectly, burden, penalize, prohibit, interfere with, or discriminate against” women seeking abortions or abortion providers unless it uses the “least restrictive means.”
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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