Ohio Rep. Sykes wants to crack down on anti-abortion counseling centers

U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes wants to treat anti-abortion counseling centers like companies that market fake fad weight-loss products or bogus bamboo products.

The Akron Democrat proposed legislation that would direct the Federal Trade Commission to penalize centers for deceptive advertising if they pretend to offer abortion or prenatal services and then do not deliver.

More than 2,500 anti-abortion counseling centers exist across the United States, according to the Journal of Medical Internet Research Public Health and Surveillance. These organizations, sometimes called crisis pregnancy centers, are often connected to Christian churches or organizations. They are sometimes located near abortion clinics.

"These centers purposefully use deceptive, aggressive and coercive tactics to target vulnerable individuals, including low-income and minority communities," Sykes said. "Women are really sick and tired of being lied to."

Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis disagreed, saying these organizations offered "a great resource for low-income and minority women," particularly in districts like Sykes'. He invited Sykes to visit these centers to get a better understanding of how they work.

"We’d love to share with her the work we’re doing to save lives," Gonidakis said.

Sykes said there could be a space for organizations that talk to pregnant women about parenting or adoption options honestly without scare tactics or a bait-and-switch approach pretending to be abortion clinics. However, "I have not come across one of those organizations," she said.

Ohio's GOP-controlled Legislature has sent millions to these organizations over the years. Shortly before his GOP primary last year, Gov. Mike DeWine earmarked another $1.5 million for anti-abortion counseling centers. The current two-year budget proposal allocates $14 million for these organizations.

Efforts to restrict these centers have largely failed because of First Amendment protections extended to religious organizations. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a 2015 California law that required centers to disclose they were not licensed medical facilities.

That led Sykes and her co-sponsors to take a different approach: cracking down on deceptive advertising.

"Your First Amendment has rights, but it’s certainly not without restrictions," Sykes said.

Under her proposal, centers could face lawsuits to block the deceptive advertising and fines of up to $100,000 or half the revenue earned by the center's parent organization over the past year.

Sykes said the change is needed now because of the U.S. Supreme Court's June decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Those seeking abortions might face a shorter timeline to obtain an abortion because of state laws passed since the court's ruling.

Ohio currently allows abortions up to 21 weeks and six days into pregnancy. A state law that banned doctors from performing the procedure after cardiac activity was detected was placed on hold in September. The Ohio Supreme Court is reviewing some legal questions surrounding Ohio's abortion restrictions.

Jessie Balmert is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ohio lawmaker wants to crack down on anti-abortion counseling centers