Rep. Nickie Antonio: Focus Should be on Jobs, Not Playing Doctor with Women's Healthcare

COLUMBUS –Today’s state job numbers showed that 31,000 more Ohioans are out of work than at this time last year. State Rep. Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) attributed the stalled recovery to misplaced priorities in the recent state budget.

 “Gov. Kasich should focus on creating economic opportunity for all Ohioans, instead of attacking women’s healthcare and undermining access to essential services,” said Rep. Antonio. “Today’s disappointing job numbers underscore that playing politics in the doctor’s office does nothing to create good-paying jobs for out of work Ohioans. We can do better.”

 Provisions in Governor Kasich’s most recent budget include defunding Planned Parenthood; instituting a gag rule keeping rape counselors from discussing all available health options following sexual assault; requiring women to undergo and pay for unnecessary medical procedures including invasive internal ultrasounds; and the targeting of women’s clinics around the state for closure.