Committee hears from ‘Heartbeat’ opponents

Panel reconvenes today to hear more testimony on abortion bill.

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By William Hershey, Staff Writer 12:10 AM Wednesday, December 14, 2011

COLUMBUS — Opponents of the “Heartbeat” bill had their say Tuesday before a Senate committee, including one witness whose plea for “peace” in the heated debate over abortion drew a challenge from Sen. Peggy Lehner, R-Kettering.

Cathy Levy, an opponent and executive director of the Ohio Coalition for Religious Choice, got the attention of Lehner, who’s on the committee, when Levy urged everyone, in the spirit of the holiday season, to attack the problems that lead to abortion, including abuse, poverty and addiction.

“Let us work together, in peace, to solve root problems and improve our world to create a kingdom of heaven in our midst,” said Levy. She urged the committee to oppose the bill and others that would “restrict access to the option of a safe, legal, insurable abortion.”

Lehner, who opposes abortion, said she agreed with much of what Levy said but questioned references to peace when discussing “ripping an unborn child” apart.

Lehner said counseling a woman to have an abortion, from her experience, is the easier choice.

“To help her give life ... that’s what peace is really all about,” Lehner said.

Another hearing of the Health, Human Services and Aging Committee is set for noon today on House Bill 125, which would ban abortion once a human heartbeat is detected and would be the nation’s toughest anti-abortion law.

Supporters testified last week.

Senate President Tom Niehaus, R-New Richmond, said he couldn’t say for certain whether the full Senate would vote on the bill today, the last floor session this year.

The House also is scheduled for its last session of the year today.

The Senate could wait until returning in January for a floor vote. However, backers have campaigned for Senate passage — with TV ads and even a plane pulling a sign over the Statehouse — since the House passed the bill in June.

Niehaus sounded irked Tuesday after receiving three pages of proposed changes to the bill from supporters.

“What I find interesting is that after months of being berated for not moving the bill, that the bill was vetted in the House ... now at the 11th hour they have apparently decided that some changes are needed,” Niehaus said.

Janet Porter, president of Faith2Action and a prime mover behind the proposal, said the changes weren’t major and were crafted to answer questions senators had raised.

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