Posted on 10/02/2015 8:19:17 AM PDT by bimboeruption
Ohio Department of Health Director Richard Hodges, an appointee of Gov. John Kasich, made a behind-the-scenes deal with Planned Parenthood and another abortion business so that they could keep doing surgical abortions while appealing a license denial.
On Friday, the Kasich administration's Department of Health denied surgical license exceptions for Planned Parenthood in Mount Auburn and Women's Med in Dayton, because they do not have the ambulatory agreement with a local hospital required for a surgical facility license. In Ohio, a patient transfer contract is required in order to save the lives of women in cases of botched surgical abortions.
On Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Michael R. Barrett ordered that the two businesses may stay open and continue committing abortions while they appeal ODH's decision.
The judge's decision flies in the face of a new Ohio law, which went into effect this week, that requires abortion businesses to close if they are denied a surgical license. It's called the "Automatic Suspension Provision," and Planned Parenthood and Women's Med are suing the state over it. The ODH denial came just in time for the abortion facilities to avoid the new law.
Had ODH director Hodges waited one week, he could have closed both facilities.
Judge Barrett's order reveals that the state and the abortionists made a behind-the-scenes deal: ODH would intentionally issue its denial of license exception before the new law went into effect, with the result that the abortionists would be able to stay in business.
"Since the Director's actions were taken prior to the effective date of [the Automatic Suspension Provision], the parties agree that the provisions of ... the Automatic Suspension Provision will not apply to these variance denials," the judge's order states. The abortion businesses were seeking a preliminary injunction to stay open.
If the two abortion facilities had been forced to close, the number of surgical abortion businesses in Ohio would have decreased to seven, from 14 in 2013 – thanks in no small part to Gov. Kasich and the Republican-controlled state legislature. If Planned Parenthood in the Cincinnati suburbs were to close, the city would be the largest metropolitan area in the nation without an abortion business.
ODH director Hodges promised the abortionists that they could keep aborting while they appeal. "Director Hodges has provided Plaintiffs with the opportunity to request a hearing ... and has assured the Plaintiffs that if they request a hearing 'you may remain in operation while the administrative proceedings take place,'" the judge's order explains, directly quoting Hodges.
Cincinnati-based Life Issues Institute President Brad Mattes commented to LifeSiteNews, "The state of Ohio should have the backbone to close Planned Parenthood if it's unable to follow legal requirements to keep it open. Those laws were designed to protect the lives and health of women."
"We don't need another unsuspecting woman to die, to remind us that those laws are there for a reason," Mattes added.
Director Hodges was not available for an explanation when contacted by LifeSiteNews, nor was ODH general counsel Lance Himes. On Tuesday, ODH director of communications Melanie Amato confirmed the basic facts to LifeSiteNews and assured LifeSiteNews that ODH would have an explanation soon.
A day later, the official ODH response came to the question of why ODH timed its actions to benefit the abortion businesses.
On Wednesday, LifeSiteNews received this statement from Amato:
ODH is denying the variances to protect the health of patients in the facilities. The proposed variances would not provide for adequate clinical coverage to protect patients during an emergency situation. In the absence of a written transfer agreement, the Department of Health may grant a variance if it feels that the proposed alternative takes the needed steps to protect patient health which is paramount. In these cases, the Department of Health determined that these variance requests did not meet or exceed the level of patient protection that is essential. The facilities will be able to continue to operate while they appeal the proposed revocation if they choose to appeal. We have no other comment.
LifeSiteNews replied via email, pointing out that the statement did not answer our question. ODH has not offered clarification.
BTW, Women's Med in Dayton is run by long time baby-killer, Martin Haskell, the creator of the partial-birth abortion procedure.
Is this baby killing supporter still running for prez? Cause if he is he can stay home.
Of course he is. He’s running interference for Jeb.
When will Kasich be interviewed about this? His response will be interesting. Desired response: “I am withdrawing from the 2016 Presidential race.”
Drop out of the POTUS primary now Kasich. You are not who you say you are. We already have more than enough liars in DC.
John Kasich is a liberal posing as a republican. He lost me ever since the first debate.
Kasich is nothing but a phony.
He pretends he’s a Christian and a Conservative when he’s neither.
Kasich pulled a fast one to expand Medicaid in Ohio.
At the last debate he said he was busy looking for ways to defund PP in Ohio. All he had to do was walk down the stage and ask Jeb, Walker and Christie how they did it.
His second wife is a lib, pro-abort. I think that explains it.
We need to make sure this gets out, will ruin him in the election....
The GOP convention is in Cleveland. It’s going to be a love in for Jeb with RINOs Kasich and Ohio Senator Portman center stage. One big pukefest.
That is unless, Jeb goes belly up.
Kasich is a Democrat in an R jersey. He’s a squish on all the important issues.
No wonder his polling is in the hopper.
He’s no Conservative...that’s for sure.
Ohio has plenty of faux Conservatives.
Ohio Ping
“Ohio Department of Health Director Richard Hodges, an appointee of Gov. John Kasich, made a behind-the-scenes deal with Planned Parenthood (sic) and another abortion business so that they could keep doing surgical abortions while appealing a license denial”.
Katich is just as trust worthy as Hillary. He is a snake in snake’s clothing.
Let’s get this straight, John. What Planned Parenthood is doing is premeditated murder.
I spend my days counseling and praying there. There are killers among us, folks. And there are also those who enable the killers. Choose you this day whom you will serve . . .
I was there back in the 90’s, with Operation Rescue. We spent several days there.
The hairy armpit lezbos from Antioch College showed up to protest us.
One of them kicked me in the shoulder. (She was wearing combat boots, camo and a top made out of fish net.)
I grabbed her leg mid air and a cop grabbed me. I wasn’t arrested. He gave me a warning and told me if I did it again, he’d arrest me. He didn’t talk to her.
Faith, do you know Vivian S.?
Yes! I work with her every day the mill is open. Thank you for your work with O.R. I hear some of those stories occasionally and am grateful to the people who were involved. God bless!
Ditto. He’s my governor, and I can’t stand him.
There are a few other “conservative” politicians to whom we will NEVER donate another penny. Hubby and I got back-
stabbed by two of them. $1,000 down the drain, they immediately took hard left turns after they were elected.
Ditto X 100
Good for you.
I truly cannot bear these lying jackasses who pretend to be
Conservative but are more leftist than the dang socialists.
I have finally reached around and pulled that knife out of
my back. Wish I could send it back to the creeps who put it
there.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.