Activist behind anti-abortion heartbeat bill not at signing

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A key activist was missing when Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed Ohio’s stringent heartbeat abortion ban.

Janet Porter, the polarizing figure who originated the bill and championed it for a decade, says it stung to be excluded from Thursday’s signing. But she’s pleased the bill is finally law.

Porter acknowledges that her unusual tactics have spawned some political enemies over the years. That includes the powerful Ohio Right to Life and the Ohio Senate president, whom she challenged in a primary.

Right to Life’s president says the appropriate people “bar none” were at the bill-signing. That included representatives of his organization, which has supported the heartbeat bill since Dec. 27.

A DeWine spokesman declined to directly address why Porter wasn’t invited.