COLUMBUS – Some Statehouse Democrats are voicing outrage over comments made by a Republican lawmaker sponsoring a bill restricting access to abortions in Ohio.
Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Loveleand) has introduced so-called “trigger” legislation, which would automatically eliminate access to abortion in Ohio with no exceptions should the U.S. Supreme Court overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling legalizing abortion.
Two Democratic lawmakers are calling comments Schmidt made about rape during testimony before a House panel “appalling and insensitive.”
During the hearing before the House Government Oversight Committee, Rep. Richard Brown (D-Canal Winchester) asked why Schmidt’s bill includes no exceptions for women who become pregnant as a result of being raped.
Schmidt replied that rape is “A shame when it happens, but an opportunity for that woman, no matter how old or young she is, to make a determination about what she’s going to do to help that life become a productive human being.”
Brown claimed that 5% of rape victims nationwide become pregnant, resulting in an estimated 32,101 pregnancies per year.
“To suggest that rape is anything but a traumatic, horrific event is insensitive and diminishes the anguish that impacts a survivor for the rest of their life,” Rep. Tavia Galonski (D-Akron) said.
The bill does not include any exceptions to the abortion ban for rape, incest or protecting the health of the mother.
Galonski and Rep. Jessica Miranda (D-Forest Park) are sponsors of a bill that would eliminate the criminal statute of limitations for rape, extend the period for civil action by sexual abuse victims and eliminate the spousal exception for rape.