Ohio Gov. John Kasich told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union” that he would sign a bill currently being debated in his state banning abortion if the reason for the procedure is because the child would have Down syndrome.
“I would sign it, yes,” Kasich said. “Look, I’m a governor. I’m a CEO. I have to have a hand steady on the wheel. But in this case, I’m more than glad to say that of course I would sign that.”
Kasich, who opposes abortion except in cases of rape, incest or to preserve the life of the mother, previously had not commented on the bill, saying he didn’t want to express his opinion while it was being debated in Ohio’s statehouse.
Former Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin told Tapper earlier this month that Kasich should take a stand on the measure. Palin’s son, Trig, has Down syndrome.
“I don’t think because the child has one extra chromosome they should be able to snuff that life out,” Palin said.
The bill’s primary sponsor, Ohio state Rep. David Hall, told Palin last month on “On Point,” a show on the One America News Network, that the bill was set to be voted on in October.
Between 60% and 90% of prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis result in abortion, according to a review of termination rates in the United States between 1995 and 2011 conducted by the International Society for Prenatal Diagnosis.