Dec 16 2011
The Ohio measure would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected. In Pennsylvania, the legislation would overhaul abortion clinic operation standards.
Reuters: Ohio Senate Sets Aside 'Heartbeat' Abortion Bill
The Ohio Senate on Wednesday suspended discussion of a controversial bill that would have banned abortions after the first fetal heartbeat was detected. The measure, known as House Bill 125, has already passed the Ohio House. If it became law, it would be the toughest restriction on abortions in the nation (12/14).
The Associated Press: Leader Suspends Hearings On Ohio 'Heartbeat' Bill
A bill imposing the most stringent abortion limit in the nation has been put on hold in Ohio after backers who had defended its constitutionality for almost a year asked for a pile of last-minute language changes. The leader of the Ohio Senate said Wednesday he was suspending hearings on the bill, which would ban abortions after the first detectable fetal heartbeat, because more than 20 proposed amendments by supporters were creating confusion (Sanner, 12/14).
Philadelphia Inquirer: Abortion Clinic Crackdown Goes To Corbett
The state Senate on Wednesday approved controversial legislation to overhaul abortion clinic operations in Pennsylvania that was driven exclusively by the alleged murderous activities of a Philadelphia doctor. The bill, which passed the House on Tuesday, cleared the Senate on a 32-18 vote and goes to Gov. [Thomas] Corbett for his signature. Spokesman Kevin Harley did not respond to a question about whether Corbett would sign the bill, but a number of lawmakers said on the House and Senate floor that he would (Worden, 12/15).
 This article was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent news service, is a program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health care policy research organization unaffiliated with Kaiser Permanente.
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