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Ohio governor vetoes ‘heartbeat’ abortion bill

Posted at 5:53 PM, Dec 13, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-13 17:53:36-05

Ohio Gov. John Kasich vetoed a measure that would have banned abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected but signed a bill outlawing abortions in the state after 20 weeks.

Kasich said he vetoed the amendment commonly referred to as the “Heartbeat Bill” based on failed outcomes for similar proposals in other states and to avoid lengthy and costly litigation.

“Similar legislation enacted in two other states has twice been declared unconstitutional by federal judges, and the Supreme Court declined to review those decisions,” he said in a statement.