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RIGHT TO LIFE ACTION COALITION OF OHIO
Friday Five

Barry Sheets, Legislative Consultant
June 14, 2019

It is certainly getting hotter in June, and not just the temperature.  Pro-Life and pro-abortion issues are taking the forefront of discussion,  with significant consequences at stake .


NEWS AND VIEWS

1. The first set of changes to the State's Operating Budget Legislation (HB 166) were unveiled by the Ohio Senate on Tuesday.  Among those changes are a number of provisions of interest to Pro-Life Ohioans.  First , the Senate added a line-item in the amount of $2.5 million per year for Ohio's pregnancy care centers under the Parenting and Prevention Fund.  Second, $500,000 was allocated for risk avoidance education (abstinence) for Ohio's classrooms. Further amendments will be offered on the bill next week, voted out of the Senate and on to the Committee of Conference before being sent to Governor DeWine. Please pray these important programs remain as part of Ohio's commitment to life and family.
 
2. On a down note regarding the budget: the CURES Act provision (awards prizes for finding cures for major diseases), was removed from the House-passed version of the budget by the Senate . This initiative, sponsored by Pro-Life Representative Jim Butler of Oakwood (Speaker Pro-Tempore of the House and #2 in Leadership behind the Speaker), may have disappeared but may reappear during the conference deliberations (Rep. Butler is, I hear, a pretty good magician himself...). Please keep Rep. Butler and the CURES Act in prayer.
 
3. The Primary and Secondary Education Committee is hearing legislation on HB 165 (sponsored by Democrat Representatives Beth Liston and Tavia Galonski)  that would require the adoption of health education standards.  This area, which includes venereal disease/sexually transmitted disease education, is very contentious and a way Planned Parenthood uses to commandeer the classroom thorough "comprehensive sex education" (condom mandates). The bill removes legislative approval and oversight on the venereal disease education portion and requires the state to adopt national standards. These standards are pushed by special interest groups who back " comprehensive sex education" through the Federal Centers for Disease Control. Opponent testimony is likely to be next Tuesday at 5 p.m. For those who wish to testify, please contact me at  [email protected].
 
4. The Lakewood City Council wants to be like the states of New York and Illinois, it seems (and yes, they are about half-way between both geographically).  A hearing has been scheduled for Monday, June 17th to once again attempt to repeal the Pro-Life abortion restriction regulations that have been in place in the city since 1977. Repeal of these ordinances would expose citizens to unsafe conditions; eliminate protections from illegal waste disposal, as well as other locally-focused protections. RTLACO is discussing the issue with Pro-Life law professor Dr. David Forte, who is preparing comments for the council meeting. Pray, and turn out if you can!
 
5.  Speaking of city councils forgetting that people are growing  increasingly  Pro-Life,  the Toledo City Council is still planning to move forward on a resolution that would condemn the passage of the Human Rights and Heartbeat Protection Act and other Pro-Life measures. They have rescheduled the hearing for Tuesday, June 25th.  Toledo Right to Life has the information you need to make your voice heard  here .



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PROFILES

Ohio Department of Medicaid 
Director Maureen Corcoran oversees the department which administers health care coverage to nearly 3 million Ohioans through a network of approximately 130,000 providers. Corcoran served previously with the Department of Job and Family Services and has been in state government since 1984. She has been recognized nationally as a leader in the field of services for individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. Corcoran earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester; a Master in Business Administration from Case Western University, and a Master of Science in Nursing from Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University.
 
Senator John Eklund (R) 
The second-term Senator from Geauga County's Chardon (18th Senate District), serves as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and sits on the Finance, Ways & Means, Rules & Reference, General Government & Agency Review, and Energy & Public Utilities Committees. A partner at Calfee, Halter and Griswold, he serves on the Great Lakes Commission and the Geauga County Republican Executive Committee.  Eklund has a mixed voting record on life issues, having voted against the Human Rights and Heartbeat Protection bill on more than one occasion.
 
Representative Riordan McClain (R)
The second term Representative from the 87thHouse District (Morrow, Crawford, Wyandot, Marion (part) and Seneca (part) Counties) serves in the seat vacated by his father, Jeff McClain. McClain is married with three children. He is Vice Chairman of the Transportation and Public Safety Committee and serves on the Economic & Workforce Development and Ways & Means Committees.  McClain has voted Pro-Life during his two terms in the House.
 
Representative Derek Merrin (R) 
A second term member, Representative Merrin serves the 47th House District (parts of Lucas and Fulton Counties) and lives in Monclova.  A realtor and real estate investor, Merrin was formerly the Mayor of Waterville. He currently serves as the Chairman of the House Health Committee and serves on the Insurance and Ways & Means Committees.  Merrin has been a Pro-Life champion during his tenure, shepherding the Human Rights and Heartbeat Protection law through his committee and was a primary sponsor of the Down's syndrome Abortion Ban law.
 
Representative Adam Miller (D)
Another second term member makes this week's list: Adam Miller represents the 17th House District in Franklin County. He has significant experience, a former public school teacher, a superintendent, a school board member, and a faculty member for the National Defense University, and a partner in the Law Firm of Taft, Stettinius and Hollister. Miller is a Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army reserves and currently a student at the U.S. Army War College. He is a ranking member of the House Federalism Committee, serves on the Finance Committee, Public Utilities and Armed Services & Veterans Affairs Committees.  Miller has consistently voted for abortion during his terms in the House.
 



Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati is a proud member organization of the 
Contact: Meg Wittman, Executive Director, Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati, 513/728-7870.

Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati is a grassroots organization, which exists to ensure that pro-life principles of protection and dignity for all innocent human life are upheld and kept before the public; Jack Hart, President. Affiliated with Right to Life Action Coalition of Ohio.