Today, Ohio Senate Minority Leader Kenny Yuko and Ohio Senate Dems Campaign Chair Nickie J. Antonio condemned Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost for attempting to close Ohio's health clinics by declaring many abortions to be "elective" or "non-essential." "All of Governor DeWine's efforts have been focused on giving Ohio hospitals the resources and space they need to save lives during the Coronavirus crisis. Now Dave Yost wants hospitals to take on the added burden of seeing more of these patients?" asked Senator Antonio.
"Every woman who seeks an abortion knows it's an essential, time sensitive procedure - especially in states like Ohio, which has drastically limited the window when abortions are allowed. It is inexcusable that our state's attorney would play politics with a global pandemic." In order to combat Ohio's rapidly expanding Coronavirus crisis, Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton recently signed an order postponing non-essential / elective surgeries.
This order, of course, does not include abortion procedures, which are extremely time sensitive under Ohio law.
AG Yost then took this order as a political opportunity, sending a letter to two Ohio clinics stating, "You and your facility are ordered to immediately stop performing non-essential and elective surgical abortions...." "Much to my chagrin, we have one high ranking elected official who has put his personal agenda ahead of the wellbeing of every single Ohioan. Unlike the governor and other elected officials, AG Yost has used the Coronavirus as an instrument to enhance his own goals," said Leader Yuko.
Ohio Senate Democrats will always fight for your personal freedoms.