Dem lawmakers push proposals for women's "access to healthcare without apology"

Ohio House Democratic members hosted a press conference today to speak out against the recent attacks on women’s access to healthcare. Led by State Rep. Greta Johnson (D-Akron), the lawmakers introduced a package of bills aimed at securing and expanding women’s access to comprehensive healthcare services.

“The women and families of our state deserve better and need not apologize for demanding access to comprehensive healthcare,” said Johnson. “We are not damsels in distress tied to the train tracks, waiting to be rescued. We have the fundamental right to make healthcare decisions about our own bodies.”

The six separate bills unveiled today seek to address medical accuracy, safety, cost, and barriers associated with women’s access to healthcare services in Ohio. Among the bills, are provisions that:

-Eliminate the transfer agreement restriction for public hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities.

-Require crisis pregnancy centers that receive TANF funding to provide only medically accurate information.

-Lift the medically unnecessary 24-hour waiting period before an abortion.

“The Republican majority in the legislature is acting like a deadbeat dad – they’re there at conception, but gone through a child’s development and once they’re grown,” said Rep. Janine Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights). “Ohio families want help finding employment, getting into school, and putting food on the table. Families don’t care what the governor or this legislature thinks about their personal, often very difficult reproductive decisions.”

Since 2013, new restrictions passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. John Kasich have eliminated nearly half of the abortion clinics in Ohio – from 14 to 9.

“Women have the right to make decisions that are the best for their families – politicians have no place meddling in family matters,” said Rep. Stephanie Howse (D-Cleveland). “Politicians need to focus on getting Ohioans jobs and equitably funding education, not repeated attacks or restrictions on women’s access to family planning and other comprehensive healthcare services.”

New restrictions in the recent state budget have the potential to shutter two of the few remaining abortion clinics in the Western half of Ohio, which would severely limit women’s access to healthcare.  

“Governor Kasich and his cronies in the Ohio legislature have passed 16 new restrictions designed to prevent access to safe, legal abortion care,” said NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Executive Director Kellie Copeland. “Today, we stand with our legislative allies and introduce a package of bills that will again put women in charge of their health care decisions.” 

Below is a round up of comments from today’s press conference:

“Women make up a majority of Ohio, but 73% of the Ohio legislature is men. It is of little surprise that the anti-women legislation attacking our access to healthcare is being sponsored by a majority of men,” said Rep. Heather Bishoff (D-Columbus). “I am a woman, a veteran, and a moderate, and I cannot stand by while women’s access to healthcare continues to be attacked. I trust myself when I make decisions about myself and my body.”

“Putting up partisan barriers to healthcare services does nothing to help Ohio families improve their quality of life,” said Rep. Nick Celebrezze (D-Parma). “Our state’s unique restrictions on accessing care are a distraction for the many Ohioans that are worried about their future and making ends meet.”

“Women in our state should not have to apologize for wanting access to comprehensive healthcare services,” said Rep. Michele Lepore Hagan (D-Youngstown). “It is past time to ensure women have a baseline for access to healthcare that will allow them to focus on their careers, education and families instead of partisan politics at the statehouse.”

“It is impossible for myself and the other 98 House members to know what exact situations women face, so we should not make their decisions for them,” said Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid). “Abortion is a deeply personal and often times very complex decision which should be made individually – not by politicians attempting to project their ideological views onto every Ohio citizen.”

“The women in the state deserve to have full access to all their healthcare needs, including reproductive services,” said Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Akron). “This includes the freedom to make decisions for themselves and their families without  first seeking the approval of Ohio legislature.”

“Health care. That's what happens at Planned Parenthood. As we stand here today, there are thousands of women and men who are coming to our health centers to receive the critical health services they need,” said Stephanie Kight, CEO of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio. “We are here today to protect these essential preventive programs, like breast and cervical cancer screenings, so we can continue to improve the health and well being of our fellow Ohioans.”