House Republicans in Ohio are pursuing a proposal that targets abortion providers like Planned Parenthood while directing public health care dollars to other programs that help uninsured and underinsured women.
To avoid constitutional issues, lawmakers placed Planned Parenthood at the back of the line for money rather than defunding it entirely.
The plan was among dozens of amendments Tuesday to a mid-biennium budget bill proposed by Republican Gov. John Kasich. Lawmakers split the sweeping package into 10 smaller, more manageable bills. They also eliminated items, including one trimming prison time for good behavior.
Ohio Right to Life praised the Planned Parenthood amendment for undercutting the "abortion industry." Democrats called the move a shameful attack on an important women's health care provider.
Hearings on the bill continue Wednesday and Thursday.