Abortion rights proponents are warning that most Republican leaders in Florida are set on ensuring that pregnancy is the only option, after the governor recently vetoed funding for birth control.
Leading up to the Supreme Court's historic decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed - for the second year in a row - a $2 million proposal to help low-income women access long-term birth control methods, such as intrauterine devices.
Stephanie Fraim - president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida - said she's seen a consistent erosion of resources for women by Republican leaders, but no effort to provide safety nets to existing families.
"It does seem like the message is, you know, pregnancy is the only option we want you to consider," said Fraim. "And almost encouraging it by saying that we're not going to help you get access to affordable birth control."
Senate President Sen. Wilton Simpson - R-Spring Hill - advocated for the funding and even described the program as a healthy part of a "pro-life" agenda.
However, abortion opponents - like the Florida Catholic Conference - have urged the governor to veto funding for the reversible contraception program.
Fraim said despite the cuts, organizations like Planned Parenthood and local health departments can still help those in need.
Some observers were anticipating the Supreme Court's action, but the reality of it appears to have taken many by surprise.
Florida House Democratic Leader Rep. Fentrice Driskell - D-Tampa - shared her dismay on Instagram live, but quickly turned to offering resources for those feeling helpless.
"I think the main thing is just to not be idle, because there's just so much work to do," said Driskell. "It's such a heavy lift, there's no one organization or individual who could possibly do it all. So, I promise you, there's an organization or candidate out there who needs you."
Driskell mentioned groups, including Ruth's List Florida and the Bridget Alliance, that help people seeking abortions.
Currently, abortion is still legal in Florida, but now only for pregnancies up to 15 weeks, starting July 1.
Today Planned Parenthood and other reproductive health providers will ask a judge to issue a temporary emergency injunction to stop the new law from going into effect.
People living in neighboring states where access is more difficult, like Alabama and Georgia, are known to trek to Florida for abortions.
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In about a month, the Pennsylvania General Assembly revisits a controversial proposal with five separate amendments to the state Constitution. Groups that oppose Senate Bill 106 are using the next few weeks to rally their forces.
SB 106 could deny the right to abortion care and funding in Pennsylvania without exception. Another potential amendment would tighten rules about voter ID at the ballot box.
Laura Nevitt - executive director of the Keystone Progress Education Fund - said in the meantime, groups like hers are reaching out to voice concerns about SB 106, particularly the prospect of an abortion ban.
"The work now is just about educating people about what this constitutional amendment actually would do," said Nevitt, "why it is not good for the people who live in Pennsylvania, and making every effort and attempt possible to prevent it from getting on the ballot."
Democrats say GOP lawmakers are using the constitutional amendment process because they know the governor would veto standard legislation about these issues.
But this method also means the resolution has to survive two legislative sessions before the amendments could be put on the ballot for a public vote. The second session begins September 12.
The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape also strongly opposes SB 106 and predicts if it's passed, it would be used to block individuals' access to abortions, even in cases of rape or incest.
Donna Greco - public policy and legislative affairs director for the coalition - said their view is that it violates bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom. But for now, she said, a person still has the right to get an abortion.
"Currently, abortion is still legal and protected in Pennsylvania," said Greco, "as well as the range of reproductive healthcare, contraception, emergency contraception. So right now, those services are still legal here throughout the Commonwealth."
Gov. Tom Wolf already filed a lawsuit to protect reproductive rights in the Commonwealth. He contends the amendments are "constitutionally invalid."
The Senate Republican Caucus countered that Pennsylvania voters should be allowed to decide these issues.
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By Trista Bowser / Broadcast version by Mary Schuermann reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration.
After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, an Ohio law that bans abortion after six weeks of pregnancy was allowed to take effect.
A federal judge dissolved an injunction of the state's "heartbeat" bill, on hold since 2019, after Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (R) filed a motion for emergency relief on June 24, the day of the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson. The law bans abortions after the detection of fetal cardiac activity, typically around six weeks of pregnancy and before many women know they're pregnant.
The "heartbeat" bill was created to outlaw abortions as soon as a doctor can detect fetal cardiac activity during a pregnancy. With the bill in effect, the only way an abortion after that date is allowed is if the mother is having complications to her health. The doctor has to show proof that the pregnancy is at risk of harming the mother.
If an illegal abortion is performed, the law makes the doctor criminally liable.
A majority of women don't realize that they are pregnant until their
first missed period, by which time they are already around four weeks pregnant. People with irregular periods may not know until days to weeks later. With the heartbeat bill now in effect, most women will have two weeks or less in which they can get an abortion in Ohio.
Women seeking an abortion after that time will now have to travel outside state lines to a location where the procedure is legal.
State legislatures in Kentucky and West Virginia have outlawed abortion, though Kentucky's ban is currently blocked by the courts. Abortion is still legal in Michigan up to 19.6 weeks into pregnancy, in Indiana up to 22 weeks and in Pennsylvania up to 24 weeks.
Prior to the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs vs. Jackson, Jessie Hill, associate dean for research and faculty development at Case Western Reserve University School of Law, explained that it will be difficult for Ohio women seeking abortions to go out of state.
"The problem with Ohio is that Ohio borders a lot of states where there's not great access either, like Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, places like that," she said.
Legislators in the Ohio statehouse were working to limit abortion access in the year leading up to the Dobbs decision.
In December 2021, Gov. DeWine signed Senate Bill 157, which banned Ohio physicians who work for the state in some capacity from undertaking contracts with abortion clinics.
The law was blocked in March, but could be allowed to take effect with Roe v. Wade overturned.
Prior to the ruling, Ohio legislators were also working on
HB 598, which would almost completely ban abortion. To qualify for an exception due to complications to the mother's health, doctors would be required to complete intensive paperwork to prove to the Ohio legislators that it was absolutely necessary. The bill contains no exemptions for pregnancy as a result of rape or incest.
Hill said many women are concerned about what they would do if they became pregnant due to sexual assault. "Being forced to carry it and not wanting a pregnancy to term is just sort of a retraumatization for some people," stated Hill.
Rep. Gary Click (R-Vickery), a co-sponsor of HB 598, said via email that he hopes the Ohio Legislature will call a special session "to align Ohio's laws to reflect the right that every child deserves."
"This is a bright day for the future of the unborn and we should not delay in delivering the American dream to our most vulnerable population one moment longer than necessary," he wrote.
State legislators may continue to pursue further restrictions on abortion in the coming months. On July 11, for instance, Click introduced a bill that would recognize constitutional rights beginning at conception, likely outlawing abortion in Ohio entirely.
As of this writing, there are nine clinics in Ohio still offering abortions up to six weeks, according to Pro-Choice Ohio.
Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio is still offering abortion services.
"We will keep fighting for legal abortion in Ohio," states a large graphic at the top of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio's website. "We will do everything in our power to ensure every person's right to bodily autonomy is upheld. Our health centers have and will remain trusted health care partners for patients across Ohio."
This collaboration is produced in association with Media in the Public Interest and funded in part by the George Gund Foundation.
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