Supporters of a plan to allow Ohioans to vote on whether to extend constitutional protection to a fertilized egg in the womb had submitted proposed petition language to Attorney General Mike DeWine. He has to sign off on that summary before anti-abortion activists begin the process of collecting petition signatures to put the issue on the statewide ballot. DeWine’s spokeswoman, Lisa Peterson Hackley, says her boss has refused to sign off on that summary because it doesn’t meet the requirement that it is fair and truthful.
"After review, he is unable to make that certification because there are three items listed in the summary that the amendment does not affect."
In his letter to backers of the plan, DeWine explains the three items affect issues involving contraception and in vitro fertilization. Opponents of the proposed amendment say some forms of birth control and in vitro fertilization would not be allowed if this amendment were passed. It’s now up to backers of the plan to decide what, if anything, they’ll do to change the language in a way that it will be accepted.