Kasich vows veto of controversial bills

Ohio Gov. John Kasich will veto both a heartbeat bill and stand-your-ground legislation if the controversial bills reach his desk during the legislature’s current lame-duck session.

That could set up a dramatic political contest of “beat the clock” in the waning days of 2018.

During a meeting with reporters Monday afternoon outside the door to his Statehouse office, Kasich said he has not changed his opposition to either proposal. Two years ago he vetoed the Heartbeat Bill, which would ban abortions in Ohio once a fetal heartbeat can be detected. And he has threatened a veto for months on the gun-rights measure, which would change Ohioans’ obligation to retreat in threatening situations.

The House has passed both items by margins wide enough to override a Kasich veto. The Senate has yet to act on either bill, but is expected to soon.

Once a bill passes both chambers, it usually takes several days to officially land on the governor’s desk. He then has 10 days to sign it, veto it or let it become law without his signature.

That means if the Senate dawdles, the process may bleed into the Christmas holiday season — a time when legislative leaders likely will have trouble mustering many members back to Columbus. And the Heartbeat Bill passed with 60 votes in the House — the bare minimum to override Kasich’s veto. The Stand Your Ground measure can only