Call for a "No" Vote on HB 239!

Please Call Your Ohio Senator's Statehouse Office! HB 239 had a hearing this morning and was passed along party lines out of the Senate Health, Human Services, & Aging Committee. The bill is scheduled for a floor vote this afternoon or evening!

HB 239 would declare that it is the public policy of the state to prefer childbirth over abortion, modify the laws governing public funding of abortions, and prohibit the use of funds appropriated for genetic services to be used for abortion-related purposes.

Please call the OFFICE OF YOUR SENATOR to let the staff know you are a constituent who opposes Subustitute House Bill 239, because women and families with low incomes do not deserve state-censored, second-class medical care and information.

Then, send us a message to let us know you called.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: HB 239 is bad for Ohio women and families

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I will not let anti-choice legislation slide through Ohio's legislature during the 11th hour.

I called my Ohio senator and urged her/him to oppose Substitute House Bill 239!

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
December 19, 2006

Background Information

House Bill 239 is the wrong approach to reduce abortions!

House Bill 239 seeks to declare that the public policy of the state should be to prefer childbirth over abortion. It would limit access to abortion services for women on Medicaid, allowing no exceptions to protect the health of the woman (i.e. if her pregnancy could result in blindness, loss of a bodily function or future fertility). It also places a “gag rule” on certain state programs that perform genetic testing and counseling and bars them from providing information to their patients about abortion—even if they are facing severe or fatal fetal abnormalities.

Support women’s health by working with Planned Parenthood to put a stop to this dangerous and unnecessary bill that limits access to medically necessary health care for low-income women. Planned Parenthood believes that all women should have access to safe, quality health care. We must remind the legislators that the people of Ohio sent a strong message during the elections that they reject these extreme anti-choice measures.

Ohio's public policies and programs should be to support full access to health care services and information and to work to prevent unintended pregnancy through common sense measures like the Ohio Prevention First Act.