COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The chief promoter of a snuffed Ohio bill that would have imposed the tightest abortion restriction in the nation says she'll use a legislative maneuver to try to force a vote before year's end over the Senate president's opposition.
In a statement Wednesday, Faith2Action President Janet Folger Porter said Republican Senate President Tom Niehaus (NEE'-hows) broke a promise Tuesday with his decision not to schedule a vote on the so-called "heartbeat bill."
Niehaus is in his final weeks at the Statehouse due to term limits. He cited lingering constitutional concerns in his decision, which effectively killed the bill.
The legislation bans most abortions at the first detectable fetal heartbeat, as early as six weeks into pregnancy.
Porter says 17 Republican signatures on a discharge petition can force a vote.
