Reproductive Rights

Dolan Said In A 2020 State Senate Debate: “I’m Pro-Life, So If Roe V. Wade Got Turned To The States, I Would Vote To Ban Abortion With The Exception Of Rape And Incest.” According to the National Review, “Dolan said in a 2020 state senate debate: ‘I’m pro-life, so if Roe v. Wade got turned to the states, I would vote to ban abortion with the exception of rape and incest.”’ [National Review, 4/27/22]

Dolan Voted For Anti-Choice Bills

Dolan Voted Twice To Ban “Dilation –And-Evacuation” Abortions With No Exceptions Beside For The Health Of The Pregenant Person

2017: Matt Dolan Voted To Ban Dilation-And-Evacuation Abortions, Also Known As “Dismemberment Abortions,” With An Exemption For The Health Of The Mother, And Impose Penalties On Physicians Who Perform Such Abortions. In June 2017, according to the Ohio Senate, Matt Dolan voted for Senate Bill 145, which would, “criminalize and create a civil action for dismemberment abortions.” The vote was on passage. The Ohio Senate passed the bill by a vote of 24 to 9, thus the bill was sent to the House for their consideration. [Ohio Senate Journal, 6/28/17; Ohio Senate – Votes, 6/28/17; Ohio Senate – S.B. 145, Accessed on 5/11/23]

S.B. 145 Banned The Most Common Abortion Procedure For Pregnant Individuals In Their Second Trimester. According to The Columbus Dispatch via Nexis, “In a move that prompted an outcry in the legislative chamber, the Ohio Senate approved a measure Wednesday that would ban the most commonly used abortion procedure for women in the second trimester of pregnancy. The legislation passed by a vote of 24-9, with all Democrats opposing it. It now heads to the House. Opponents in the chamber shouted ‘shame’ after the final vote count was announced.” [The Columbus Dispatch via Nexis, 6/29/17]
S.B. 145 Prohibited Dilation-And-Evacuation Abortions, Called Dismemberment By Anti-Abortion Activists, With Exceptions For The Mother’s Health But No Exceptions For Rape Or Incest. According to The Columbus Dispatch via Nexis, “Senate Bill 145 would institute prohibitions on dilation-and-evacuation abortions, a process dubbed ‘dismemberment’ by abortion opponents. The bill includes an exception when the mother's health is in danger, but it has no exception for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest.” [The Columbus Dispatch via Nexis, 6/29/17]
S.B. 145 Charged Physicians Who Perform Dilation-And-Evacuation Abortions With “Dismemberment Feticide,” A Fourth Degree Felony. According to The Columbus Dispatch via Nexis, “Additionally, it would institute criminal penalties against doctors who perform the procedure -- the crime would be ‘dismemberment feticide,’ a fourth-degree felony -- with protections for the pregnant women involved.” [The Columbus Dispatch via Nexis, 6/29/17]
Opponents Argued S.B. 145 Would Ban An Abortion Procedure That Was Considered Safe And Preferred By Doctors And Would Be Costly Due To Legal Challenges. According to The Columbus Dispatch via Nexis, “Opponents also said the legislation would bar an abortion procedure that is deemed safe and preferred by physicians, and it would lead to millions of dollars in legal challenge costs.” [The Columbus Dispatch via Nexis, 6/29/17]
Dilation And Evacuation Abortions Typically Take Place 13-15 Weeks Into A Pregnancy, In The Second Trimester. According to the Toledo Blade via Nexis, “The Ohio Senate voted Wednesday to ban the most common method of second-trimester abortion. The bill, sponsored by Sens. Matt Huffman (R., Lima) and Steve Wilson (R., Maineville), would ban dilation and evacuation, an abortion procedure that typically takes place 13-15 weeks into a pregnancy. The Senate passed the bill 24-9. It will next go before the House.” [Toledo Blade via Nexis, 6/29/17]
Dilation And Evacuation Abortions Sometimes Are Performed After Miscarriages. According to the Toledo Blade via Nexis, “The surgical procedure, which is sometimes also performed following miscarriages, involves dilating the cervix and removing fetal tissue from the uterus.” [Toledo Blade via Nexis, 6/29/17]
S.B. 145 Would Reduce Options For Pregnant Individuals Seeking Second Trimester Abortions. According to the Toledo Blade via Nexis, “If enacted, Senate Bill 145 will leave few options for women seeking second trimester abortions. Induction, a less popular second-trimester method that involves medically inducing labor, was performed fewer than 10 times in Ohio in 2015.” [Toledo Blade via Nexis, 6/29/17]

S.B. 145 Was Effectively A 13-Week Abortion Ban

NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Argued That S.B. 145 Was Effectively Imposing A 13-Week Abortion Ban. According to the Toledo Blade via Nexis, “‘We are pretty much looking at a 13-week abortion ban,’ said Jaime Miracle, deputy director of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio.” [Toledo Blade via Nexis, 6/29/17]
Pro-Abortion Advocates Warned That S.B. 145 Would Prompt Some Pregnant Individuals To Go To Michigan For Second Trimester Abortions. According to the Toledo Blade via Nexis, “Some pro-abortion advocates say that Senate Bill 145, if enacted, will force many Lucas County women to travel to Michigan to receive second trimester abortions.” [Toledo Blade via Nexis, 6/29/17]

Dolan Voted To Concur With The House Amendments On S.B. 145

2018: Matt Dolan Voted To Ban Dilation-And-Evacuation Abortions, Also Known As “Dismemberment Abortions,” With An Exemption For The Health Of The Mother, And Impose Penalties On Physicians Who Perform Such Abortions. In December 2018, according to the Ohio Senate, Matt Dolan voted to concur with the House on Senate Bill 145, which would, “criminalize and create a civil action for dismemberment abortions.” The vote was on a motion to concur. The Ohio Senate concurred with the House by a vote of 23 to 9, thus the bill was sent to Governor John Kasich and it ultimately became law. [Ohio Senate Journal, 12/13/18; Ohio Senate – Votes, 12/13/18; Ohio Senate – S.B. 145, Accessed on 5/11/23]

The Ban On Dilation-And-Evacuation Abortions Was Deemed Essentially A Ban On Second Trimester Abortions By Bill Opponents. According to The Repository (Canton, Ohio) via Nexis, “Kasich has not yet indicated whether he will sign Senate bill 145, the D&E ban, which opponents say would essentially ban abortions in the second trimester, starting at 13 weeks of pregnancy.” [The Repository (Canton, Ohio) via Nexis, 12/15/18]
S.B. 145 Charged Doctors Who Perform Dilation-And-Evacuation Abortions With A Fourth-Degree Felony And Could Face Up To 18 Months Of Imprisonment, And Provided An Exemption For The Health Of The Mother Or If There Were A Substantial And Irreversible Physical Impairment. According to Cleveland.com, “The D&E method is typically used from 13 to 24 weeks of pregnancy. Under SB 145, physicians who perform D&Es would be charged with a fourth-degree felony and spend up to 18 months behind bars. The bill has exceptions, such as allowing the procedure if the life of the mother is at risk or if there could be a substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function.” [Cleveland.com, 12/13/18]
The Ohio House Modified The Definition Of “Dismemberment Abortion” To Exclude Procedures Performed After The Death Of A Fetus To Extract The Remaining Parts. According to the S.B. 145 Synopsis Of House Committee Amendments from the Ohio Legislative Service Commission, “Modifies the definition of dismemberment abortion to exclude a procedure performed after the death of an unborn child to extract any remaining parts of the unborn child.” [Ohio Legislative Service Commission – S.B. 145 Synopsis Of House Committee Amendments, Accessed on 5/11/23]

Dolan Voted To Require Abortion Clinics To Dispose Of Fetal Remains following An Abortion By Cremation Or Burial

2018: Matt Dolan Voted To Require Abortion Clinics To Dispose Of Fetal Remains Following An Abortion By Burial Or Cremation And Impose Penalties If Clinic Operators Fail To Properly Dispose Of The Fetal Tissue. In January 2018, according to the Ohio Senate, Matt Dolan voted for Senate Bill 28, which would “impose requirements on the final disposition of fetal remains from surgical abortions.” The vote was on passage. The Ohio Senate passed the bill by a vote of 24 to 9, thus the bill was sent to the House for their consideration. The House did not take substantive action on the bill. [Ohio Senate Journal, 1/17/18; Ohio Senate – Votes, 1/17/18; Ohio Senate – S.B. 28, Accessed on 5/16/23]

S.B. 28 Would Have Required Abortion Clinics To Dispose Of Fetal Remains By Burial Or Cremation. According to The Columbus Dispatch via Nexis, “Abortion clinics would be required to dispose of fetal remains by burial or cremation under a bill passed on a 24-9, party-line vote in the Ohio Senate on Wednesday.” [The Columbus Dispatch via Nexis, 1/18/18]
S.B. 28 Would Have Given Women The Option Of Choosing The Method Of Disposal For The Fetal Remains After Their Abortion. According to The Columbus Dispatch via Nexis, “The Republican-crafted bill, decried by opponents as another unconstitutional state attempt to hamper access to a legal procedure, would give women the option of specifying which method of disposal they prefer for the remains of their abortion.” [The Columbus Dispatch via Nexis, 1/18/18]
S.B. 28 Would Have Instructed The Clinic Operator To Ensure The Remains Were Properly Disposed If The Woman Failed To Make A Choice And Would Have Penalized The Operator With A First-Degree Misdemeanor And Up To 6 Months In Prison If They Failed To Properly Dispose Of The Remains. According to The Columbus Dispatch via Nexis, “If a woman makes no choice, the clinic operator must assure that remains are disposed through burial or cremation, with failure to follow the proposed law a first-degree misdemeanor carrying up to six months in jail.” [The Columbus Dispatch via Nexis, 1/18/18]
S.B. 28 Included New Reporting Requirements For Abortion Providers. According to The Columbus Dispatch via Nexis, “The bill, which includes new reporting requirements for abortion providers, now advances to the Republican-controlled Ohio House.” [The Columbus Dispatch via Nexis, 1/18/18]
NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, ACLU Of Ohio And Planned Parenthood Argued S.B. 28 Was An “Unconstitutional Bid” To “Shame Women” And Establish More Hurdles For Abortion Access. According to The Columbus Dispatch via Nexis, “Opponents such as NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio and Planned Parenthood derided the bill in committee testimony as an unconstitutional bid to ‘shame women’ and throw more obstacles in the way of obtaining a legal abortion.” [The Columbus Dispatch via Nexis, 1/18/18]
S.B. 28 Would Have Required Abortion Clinics To Pay For The Burial Or Cremation If The Patient Chose From A The Clinic’s Pre-Selected Locations Or Required The Patient To Pay For The Disposal If They Chose A Different Location. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, “Abortion clinics would pay for the burial or cremation if the woman selects from one of the clinics' pre-established locations. If the woman wants another option, she would pay for it. Abortion clinics worry about the cost and cooperation of local funeral homes.” [Cincinnati Enquirer, 1/19/18]
Abortion Providers Were Worried About The Cost And Planned Parenthood Advocates Of Ohio Warned That The Costs And Contracts With Funeral Homes Could Force Clinics To Close And Eliminate Abortion Access. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, “Abortion clinics worry about the cost and cooperation of local funeral homes. ‘Without these contracts (with funeral homes or cremation facilities,) abortion providers could be forced to close, restricting or even eliminating access in the state,’ said Joanna Saul of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio.” [Cincinnati Enquirer, 1/19/18]

Dolan Voted Against An Amendment That Would Have Prohibited The Use Of State Funds To Defend Senate Bill 28 In Court

2018: Matt Dolan Effectively Voted Against An Amendment That Would Have Prohibited The Use Of Public Funds To Defend S.B. 28’s Mandates For Abortion Clinics To Dispose Fetal Remains By Cremation Or Burial. In January 2018, according to the Ohio Senate Journal, Matt Dolan voted to table an amendment to Senate Bill 28, which would, “In line 5 of the title, after ‘3726.16,’ insert ‘3726.18,’ In line 8 of the title, after ‘abortions’ insert ‘and to prohibit the use of public funds to defend the bill in court’ In line 12, after ‘3726.16,’ insert ‘3726.18,’ After line 538, insert: ‘Sec. 3726.18. No public funds shall be allocated, appropriated, or expended to defend S.B. 28 of the 132nd general assembly if it is challenged in court.’” The vote was on a motion to lay on the table. The Ohio Senate adopted the motion by a vote of 24 to 9, effectively killing the amendment. [Ohio Senate Journal, 1/17/18; Ohio Senate – Votes, 1/17/18; Ohio Senate – S.B. 28, Accessed on 5/16/23]

State Senator Sandra Williams (D) Attempted To Amend S.B. 28 To Restrict The Use Of Taxpayer Funds To Defend The Bill In Court, Highlighting That A Federal Judge In Indiana Struck Down A Similar Law. According to The Columbus Dispatch via Nexis, “Sen. Sandra Williams, D-Cleveland, unsuccessfully attempted to amend the bill to prevent the use of state funds in defending the measure in court if it becomes law, saying an Indiana federal judge recently struck down a similar law in that state.” [The Columbus Dispatch via Nexis, 1/18/18]

Dolan Voted For And Co-Sponsored At Least 12 “Pro-Life” Bills

Dolan Voted For And Co-Sponsored At Least 12 “Pro-Life” Bills Which Included Prohibiting Organizations That Provide Abortions From Receiving State Funds And Banning Telehealth Abortions. According to Dolan’s campaign website, “Dolan voted for and co-sponsored 12 Pro-Life bills, including prohibiting organizations who perform abortions from receiving state funds, banning telemedicine abortions and requiring fetal remains to be treated humanely.” [DolanForOhio, accessed on 6/8/23]

Dolan Co-Sponsored A Resolution Urging Congress To Pass The “Born-Alive Abortion Survivirs Protection Act”

Dolan Co-Sponsored A Resolution Urging Congress To Pass The “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.” According to Dolan’s campaign website, “Dolan co-sponsored a resolution to encourage Congress to enact the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act to provide life-saving protections to infants born alive.” [DolanForOhio, accessed on 6/8/23]

Choice

Dolan Claimed He Would Vote To Ban Abortions With The Exception Of Rape And Incest

Dolan Claimed He Would Vote To Ban Abortions With The Exception Of Rape And Incest. According to the National Review, “Dolan said in a 2020 state senate debate: ‘I’m pro-life, so if Roe v. Wade got turned to the states, I would vote to ban abortion with the exception of rape and incest.’” [National Review, 4/27/22]

Dolan Claimed That He Would Uphold The Hyde Amendment

Dolan Claimed That He Would Uphold The Hyde Amendment. According to Dolan’s campaign website, “As a father and a Catholic, protecting the sanctity of human life and standing up for the most vulnerable members in our society isn’t just commonsense policy, it’s personal. Many candidates claim to be pro-life, but I have the record to prove it. In the U.S. Senate, I will fight to uphold the Hyde Amendment and use the full power of my platform and office to protect the unborn.” [DolanForOhio, accessed on 6/8/23]

Post – Dobbs

Dolan Claimed that Abortion Belonged On the State Level

Dolan Claimed That He Has Always Said That Abortion Should Have Been Returned To The States. According to Fox News, “‘As a lawyer and a constitutional conservative I'm really concerned about the leak and I hope that the DOJ and the FBI take it seriously, find the leaker and prosecute them,’ state Sen. Matt Dolan said on ‘America's Newsroom.’ ‘As a pro-life… person, it is exciting. I have been strong always saying that Roe v. Wade needs to be returned to the states.’” [Fox News, 5/3/22]