(Reuters) - Republican Governor John
Kasich Wednesday signed into law a measure
that prohibits abortion coverage under the
insurance exchange Ohio must create to comply with the
U.S. healthcare law championed by President Barack Obama.
The law bans Ohio citizens from being able to purchase
insurance through the exchange that includes abortion coverage,
even if they pay for it with their own money, said Kellie
Copeland, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, who
criticized the bill.
"It is appalling that Governor Kasich signed this bill,
which clearly violates the Ohio Constitution, into law," said
Copeland.
Mike Gonidakis, executive director of Ohio Right to Life,
said that while everyone can agree people should have access to
healthcare, "we reject the notion that abortion is healthcare
because the only measure of 'success' of an abortion procedure
is the death of an innocent child."
The American Civil Liberties Union has previously said it
would sue the state if the bill became law.
(Writing by Mary Wisniewski; Additional reporting by Kim Palmer,
Editing by Greg McCune and Xavier Briand)
(Reporting By Will Dunham)
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