Do not let the name deceive you, folks. While one “Republican” news website here in Iowa — which actually received $25,000 from the Republican Party of Iowa — advocated for its readers to donate to the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence, The Iowa Standard thinks you should know what that group actually stands for — or against. The group receives about $600,000 a year through the Attorney General’s office for victim assistance.
The Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence typically lobbies against legislation that is not liberal in nature.
It is almost always against pro-life bills. It lobbied against Alfie’s Law, which protected parental rights when it came to withdrawing life-sustaining procedures from a minor child.
It also registered against a bill that provided when a fetal death occurs in an institution or medical facility, the individual in charge of the institution or facility shall inform the woman she may determine the final disposition of the bodily remains. The bill would also require a fetal death certificate to be filed for each fetal death that occurs in Iowa after a gestation period of 12 completed weeks or greater.
The group registered against legislation that required informed consent for medication abortions.
It lobbied against a proposed amendment to the Iowa Constitution that said nothing in the state constitution shall be construed to recognize, grant or secure a right to abortion or require public funding of abortion — otherwise known as the Life Amendment, which was the No. 1 priority for the pro-life coalition last legislative session.
It lobbied against a bill that protected victims in regards to automatic restoration of voting rights.
The Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence registered against a bill that would prohibit health care professionals from performing practices to change a minor’s sex.
If it is a conservative issue, the group is against it.
Work requirements for welfare — against.
An ultrasound requirement before an abortion — against.
A bill to strengthen religious freedom in Iowa — against.
The election bill — against.
Just about every Second Amendment bill — against.
A bill requiring law enforcement to collect data on the commission of public offenses by nonresident aliens — against.
A bill allowing students to be excused from instruction of any kind related to sexual orientation or gender identity — against.
A bill requiring students to participate in high school sports based on their biological sex — against.
Finally, a bill literally adding victims rights into the Iowa Constitution — against.
Some of that stuff obviously has nothing to do with domestic violence. But the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence cannot help itself at the Capitol. It provides liberal lobbying while advocating against the victims of our nation’s most egregious, violence — abortion.
