COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 5 (UPI) -- An amendment aimed at making operations more difficult for abortion clinics was approved Wednesday by an Ohio state Senate committee.
The amendment to the state budget would bar abortion providers from establishing agreements with public hospitals, Cincinnati.com reported. The amendment to the budget passed by the lower house was introduced Tuesday and voted on by the Senate Finance Committee.
Celeste Glasgow Ribbins, a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of Ohio, said Tuesday some clinics that provide abortions may be forced to close, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported. Ambulatory surgical facilities in Ohio are required to have transfer agreements with hospitals, but she said in some parts of the state the only private hospitals are run by religious groups that oppose abortion.
"Restrictions like this make having access to safe and legal abortion care that much more difficult," Ribbins said. "This is going to be a tough one for the women of Ohio."
Legislatures and governors in many states dominated by Republicans have adopted anti-abortion measures, including new restrictions on how late in a pregnancy an abortion can be performed.
