On Tuesday, the Iowa Supreme Court heard arguments about the future of reproductive justice in Iowa.
At issue is a 6-week abortion ban passed by the Legislature in 2018, an extreme anti-abortion law that would prohibit 98 percent of abortions performed in Iowa. This law was found to be unconstitutional and has never been enforced. The court is reconsidering it now, however, after the U.S. Supreme Court and the Iowa Supreme Court struck down constitutional protections on abortion.
Governor Reynolds kept a close eye on “her court,” taking a front row seat at the proceedings as well as entering the Iowa Supreme Court justices secure private office area prior to the proceedings.
Iowa Senate Republicans pushed the 6-week abortion ban through the Senate in the middle of the night in May of 2018 while most Iowans were sleeping. Here are a few of my comments from the debate.
This session, Senate Republicans are continuing to push themselves into the private exam rooms of Iowa women and children with extreme health care bans while ignoring issues such as: Iowa’s worst-in-the-nation child sex abuse laws, our growing maternal health care crisis, gun violence, nursing homes closures, and Iowa’s #1 ranking for cancer.
As part of Governor Reynolds 1500+ page reorganization bill, Senate Republicans approved getting rid of the Iowa Board of Health. Just a few days later, Senate Republicans passed a bill expanding the state’s Livestock Advisory Board.
