Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine appeared in a 30-second advertisement video released on Wednesday urging voters to vote against Issue 1 on the general election ballot next month.
Ohio Governor @MikeDeWine and First Lady @FranDeWine reviewed Issue 1 and have a message for all Ohioans:
"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
— Protect Women Ohio (@ProtectWomenOH) October 11, 2023
“Everywhere we go, voters tell us they’re confused about Issue 1. So, Fran and I have carefully studied it,” Governor DeWine said in the video.
“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,” First Lady DeWine added.
“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 said, with the first lady adding, “Issue 1 just goes too far.”
The ad came out on the same day early voting began in the state by the organization Protect Women Ohio, which is a “pro-parent, pro-woman, pro-life coalition.” The ad, part of a multi-million-dollar buy from the organization, will air on broadcast television and digital platforms statewide.
Under current Ohio law, abortions are permitted up until 22 weeks of pregnancy for any reason. After the allotted 22 weeks, Ohio law contains exceptions to protect the mother’s life and prevent “substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function” of the mother.
If Ohio voters pass Issue 1, which is a constitutional amendment, the state will allow for late-term abortion through all nine months of pregnancy, nullifying the current law and rendering the 22-week ban unenforceable.
“By failing to explicitly define viability, and by giving abortionists the final word in determining when post-viability abortions can be performed on a case-by-case basis, Issue 1 leaves the door wide open for painful, late-term abortions,” Protect Women Ohio explained.
The organization also pointed out a “major loophole” in Issue 1, which is the amendment allowing late-term abortions to protect the “health” of the mother.
“The United States Supreme Court has interpreted “health” to include not just a mother’s physical health, but also her mental, emotional, social and financial health, essentially permitting late-term abortion for any reason,” the organization further explained.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Fran DeWine and Mike DeWine” by Protect Women Ohio.
