<p>Ohio lawmakers passed an austere abortion bill this Tuesday that would ban abortions from occurring as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. ;</p>
<p>This measure, tacked onto a child abuse bill at the last minute, does not make exemptions for rape or incest.</p>
<p>This failure is perhaps the reason why Ohio Governor John Kasich decided to veto the bill, as he has said in the past the he is pro-life except in cases of rape, incest and when the mother&#8217;s life is in danger. ;</p>
<p>But he did pass another bill &ndash; SB 127 &ndash; which bans abortions at the 20-week mark. This new law conflicts with Supreme Court rulings that uphold a woman&rsquo;s right to have an abortion until the point at which the fetus is &ldquo;viable,&rdquo; which is typically around 24 weeks. ;</p>
<p>The Heartbeat Bill was &ldquo;clearly contrary&rdquo; to Supreme Court rulings, said Kasich, and would have led to countless failed lawsuits and hundreds of thousands of dollars spent trying to defend the law. ;</p>
<p>&ldquo;I agree with Ohio Right to Life and other leading, pro-life advocates that SB 127 is the best, most legally sound and sustainable approach to protecting the sanctity of human life,&rdquo; he continued. ;</p>
<p>Pro-choice advocates are furious with Kasich for signing the 20-week ban, especially because it &ndash; like the failed Heartbeat Bill &ndash; does not make exemptions for incest or rape.</p>
<p>&ldquo;He [Kasich] thinks that by vetoing one abortion ban Ohioans will not notice that he has signed another,&rdquo; argues ;Kellie Copeland, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice. &ldquo;Kasich&rsquo;s actions today will fall hardest on low-income women, women of color, and young women. History will not judge Governor Kasich&rsquo;s disregard for women&rsquo;s health kindly.&rdquo;  ;</p>
<p>Ohio is the 16th state to ban abortions at the 20-week mark. ;</p>