COLUMBUS – Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is calling on Republican candidate John Kasich to veto a bill that would divert government funding away from Planned Parenthood when it gets to his desk.
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The measure cleared one of its final legislative hurdles Wednesday when the Republican-controlled state Senate passed the legislation on a 22-8 vote. The House must now OK the bill before it could go to the Republican governor for his signature.
House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger says he expects his chamber to give its approval next month.
“During his time in office, Governor Kasich has repeatedly attacked reproductive health and rights, signing 16 laws that have made it increasingly difficult for women to access vital reproductive health care and significantly decreased the number of health centers that provide access to safe and legal abortion,“ Clinton said in a statement released Wednesday. “Ohioans deserve better. It’s time for Governor Kasich to put the health and well-being of his constituents ahead of his own political ambitions and veto this bill to defund Planned Parenthood.”
The measure targets money that Planned Parenthood receives through Ohio’s health department. The roughly $1.3 million, which is mostly federal funds, supports initiatives for HIV testing, breast and cervical cancer screenings and prevention of violence against women.
The bill would restrict such funds from going to entities that perform or promote abortions. It wouldn’t affect the amount of money available for such initiatives.