Senator Janet Petersen (D-Des Moines) said the bill will take civil rights backwards in Iowa for people with disabilities, children and women.
“I want my kids to be able to have access to sex education that’s medically accurate and appropriate for whatever age they are,” she said.
She then defended the sex education program offered through Planned Parenthood, which is the nation’s largest abortion provider.
“This is a program that actually prevents abortions and I don’t know why you’re targeting Planned Parenthood,” she said. “Planned Parenthood prevents abortions.”
Senator Mark Costello (R-Imogene) was asked to yield by Petersen. He made it clear that Planned Parenthood is not being targeted, but abortion providers are.
“We don’t feel that the people of Iowa should be required to do business with people who provide abortions,” he said.
Costello made it clear the program is not the regular sex education program that Iowa has in schools. He also said the program will still be provided, the provider will just be different.
“Most importantly you’re putting politics ahead of public health,” Petersen said.
