'Heartbeat' Abortion Bill Waits for John Kasich's Signature

COLUMBUS, OH — House Bill 493, a controversial piece of legislation that would ban abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, is waiting for Gov. John Kasich's signature. The bill would ban abortions once a fetus' heartbeat can be heard.

The bill has no exceptions for rape or incest and would make Ohio one of the strictest states in the union for abortion rights. Two states have passed similar bans, Arkansas and North Dakota, and both were later struck down by a U.S. Court of Appeals.

House Bill 493 was originally focused on restructuring how medical officials report child abuse. Ostrander Sen. Kris Jordan, a Republican, amended the bill to include the "heartbeat" abortion legislation. CNN reports that he said at the time that, "We are a pro-life caucus."

The Senate voted 20-11 to approve the amendment and 21-10 to approve the bill.

Now the bill will go to Kasich. He has 10 days to decide what becomes of the bill. If he fails to veto the legislation in that time, the bill becomes law.

The governor has historically been pro-life. He signed a bill that banned abortion after 20 weeks in Ohio in 2011. He also told CNN that he is "pro-life with the exceptions of rape, incest and the life of the mother."

House Democrats reacted with outrage to the change in House Bill 493, calling it "eleventh-hour lawmaking." They also implored Kasich to veto the bill.

“This vote says to the women of Ohio that legislators do not trust your ability to make personal decisions. Legislators should not practice medicine without a license. We need to respect the constitutionally protected right to privacy and honor women's decision making ability. House Democratic lawmakers call on Governor Kasich to immediately veto this extreme and unconstitutional restriction," said Lakewood Rep. Nickie Antonio in a statement.

Lorain Rep. Dan Ramos said in a similar statement, "At some point in this country we must accept and agree that women are people and capable of making their own decisions about their own bodies. It’s clear, at least in the Ohio House, the Republican Majority is not there yet."

Photo from Gov. Kasich's Office