It’s not very often I get to praise an anti-abortion group, but Ohio Right To Life gets kudos for managing to keep one of the most egregious abortion bans off the legislative floor for a full vote.

The Ohio “Heartbeat” bill, which could ban abortions after a heartbeat could be detected — as early as 18 days post conception in some cases, has been stuck in legislative limbo after being voted through committee.  The roadblock?  One group of anti-choice activists who desperately wants to push for a challenge to Roe V. Wade is being blocked by another group who is afraid of a challenge, fearing the case would actually reaffirm abortion rights.

Now, the Speaker of the House is trying to figure out how to force the two sides into a compromise

Via The Middletown Journal:

Batchelder has enlisted experts to find a middle ground for the Republicans, who hold 59 of the House’s 99 seats.

“Obviously, we don’t want to send a bill out that has caused division within the right-to-life movement, but by the same token we have to make sure that it doesn’t come to the floor in a format that isn’t as good as we can do because it will undoubtedly end up in the (U.S.) Sixth Circuit (Court of Appeals),” he said.

Batchelder’s challenge is a classic one for the leader of a large majority with many new members, said political scientist John Green.

Batchelder must master the high wire, said Green, director of the Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at the University of Akron.

“Leaders often walk a tight rope, needing to respond to the new members’ impatience, but also (to) temper their enthusiasm,” Green said.

With four other anti-abortion bills running through the legislature, do they really want to upset the apple cart over a bill that will absolutely never be implemented, would be tied up in courts, and would drain the state of money in its defense?

Looks like the Speaker will find out the answer to that question soon.