Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed a bill Sunday
prohibiting the state from contracting for health
services with any organization that performs or
promotes abortions, blocking government funds to
Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood isn't explicitly named in the
legislation, but the law will prevent more than $1
million in funding from the state health department
from going to the nonprofit to fund programs such
as HIV testing, health screenings and prevention of
violence against women.
Kasich, who's tried to project a more moderate
image as a Republican presidential candidate on
some issues, had been expected to sign the
measure. A spokesman for the governor said
earlier this month that he intended to sign the bill
when it reached his desk. He did so Sunday, a day
after finishing a distant fifth in South Carolina's
primary.
The bill was swiftly denounced by Planned
Parenthood President Cecile Richards.
"This legislation will have devastating
consequences for women across Ohio," Richards
said in a statement. "John Kasich is proudly
eliminating care for expectant mothers and
newborns; he is leaving thousands without vital
STD and HIV testing, slashing a program to fight
domestic violence, and cutting access to essential,
basic health care."
On the campaign trail Kasich frequently talks about
the importance of funding for expecting mothers
and newborn babies. A spokesman for Kasich's
gubernatorial office, Joe Andrews, said in a
statement the new Ohio law is consistent with
those views.
"The Ohio Department of Health has at least 150
other sub-grantees and contractors for the affected
grants and projects addressing such issues as new
born babies, infant mortality, expectant mothers,
violence against women, and minority HIV/AIDS,"
the statement said. "ODH will reallocate funding
from ineligible providers under the new law to other
currently eligible providers, ranging from local
health departments and community organizations to
hospitals and universities. These organizations will
be required to submit proposals in order to receive
funding."
Many Republicans have said Planned Parenthood
should be defunded, after controversial videos
featuring group officials purportedly discussing the
sale of fetal tissue surfaced last summer.
But about a month ago, a Texas investigation into
Planned Parenthood culminated in an indictment --
of the organization's accusers instead of the group.
The Harris County District Attorney's office
announced that Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast had
been cleared in the two-month-long investigation.
But the grand jury did indict two individuals who
were involved in making secret recordings of the
group that were released to publicly discredit the
group, which provides health services and
abortions.
David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt were indicted for
tampering with a governmental record, a second-
degree felony, and Daleiden was also indicted on
the count of prohibition of the purchase and sale of
human organs, a class A misdemeanor, according
to the Harris County district attorney.
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