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COLUMBUS, Ohio, December 21, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) – Today, outgoing Ohio Gov. John Kasich vetoed for the second time a bill that would have prevented babies with beating hearts from being aborted.

Kasich, a former Republican presidential candidate, touted his allegedly “pro-life” views as he explained his veto.

“As governor, I have worked hard to strengthen Ohio’s protections for the sanctity of human life, and I have a deep respect for my fellow members of the pro-life community and their ongoing efforts in defense of unborn life,” said Kasich. “However, the central provision of Sub. H.B. 258, that an abortion cannot be performed if a heartbeat has been detected in the unborn child, is contrary to the Supreme Court of the United States’ current rulings on abortion.”

The bill passed the Ohio Senate 18-13 on December 12.

On the same day he vetoed the bill, which would have made Ohio the safest state in the country for pre-born children, Kasich signed a ban on dismemberment abortions. The move is reminiscent of his veto of the 2016 heartbeat bill, which he did the same time he signed a 20-week abortion ban into law.

Babies’ hearts finish forming around seven weeks into pregnancy; most parents see or hear their baby’s heartbeats at their first ultrasound appointment.

The bill’s architect, Janet Porter of Faith2Action, said Kasich’s veto was “absolutely heartless.”

“Kasich not only denied science, he turned his back on thousands of babies whose heartbeats can be detected,” said Porter. “Kasich can never claim to be ‘pro-life’ again.”

“This is the moment for Ohio Representatives and Senators keep their pro-life promises and make plans to come back to Columbus December 27 to override Kasich's heartless veto and protect the babies whose heartbeats can be detected,” she said.

Other Ohio pro-life leaders also praised the state House and Senate for passing the bill and urged them to override Kasich’s veto.

“Now we need to finish the job,” said Ed Sitter of Bowling Green, President of Right To Life Action Coalition of Ohio.  

“History will judge leaders by what they did or did not do in difficult, inconvenient, yet life saving moments,” said Pastor Rodney Lord of Marietta. Lord leads a coalition of pastors and leaders in southeast Ohio and has a daily radio spot with an audience of 150,000.

“Speaker Smith, Senate President Obhof, and our state legislators have an opportunity to do something significant, meaningful, and life-saving,” said Lori Viars of Warren County Right To Life.

Margie Christie, Executive Director of Dayton Right To Life, urged House and Senate leaders to “ensure this legislation (becomes) law.”

“It is time for Senator Obhof and Speaker Smith to call all members back to Columbus to override the Governor's veto,” said Molly Smith of Cleveland Right To Life.

“We are all watching, waiting, and praying for our elected officials to do the right thing,” said Linda Harvey of Franklin County. Harvey is President of Mission America and hosts a radio show by the same name on WRFD.

Incoming Gov. Mike DeWine has previously said he supports the heartbeat bill.

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Ohio Senate passes ban on aborting babies with heartbeats, ‘pro-life’ Kasich vows to veto