(The Center Square) – The ACLU of Ohio is pushing back against an expected bill that would ban the death penalty in the state, saying it also restricts money for abortion medications.
The bipartisan legislation is a reintroduction of a bill in the last legislative session that would abolish the death penalty and replace it with life without parole for capital crimes.
The Ohio Catholic Conference has come out in support of the bill.
Ohio has not carried out a death sentence in more than five years. The death penalty was reinstated in the state in 1981.
The ACLU says the bill contains two “pro-life” provisions not related to the death penalty.
The group says it would ultimately deny funding for abortion medications, which would violate the state’s Reproductive Freedom Amendment and restrict access to death with dignity.
“We are very disappointed by the legislative manipulation at play here,” ACLU of Ohio Legal Director Freda Levenson and ACLUS of Ohio Policy Director Jocelyn Rosnick said in a joint statement. “This new bill promises, but then intentionally deviates from, good or wise policy. In the past two general assemblies, we’ve seen broad, bipartisan support to abolish capital punishment. Moreover, polling shows that a majority of Ohioans support repealing the death penalty and replacing it with a life sentence for murder without the possibility of parole.”
The group has not ruled out a lawsuit should the bill pass and eventually be signed into law.
The statement said, “Our organization has maintained an anti-death penalty stance since our founding, but this ‘bait and switch’ bill is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, slyly designed to limit how public funds can be used for abortion care and coverage. Furthermore, supporting death with dignity is a longstanding ACLU principle. This proposed legislation violates the Ohio Constitution by deliberately undercutting the Reproductive Freedom Amendment. Should this bill pass, litigation is not off the table.”
