Iowa women seeking an abortion will be forced to wait 24-hours if a bill that cleared the Iowa House becomes law. Under the bill, abortion clinics must provide printed materials about abortion and alternatives, like adoption, at least 24 hours in advance. Representative Gregory Hoversten, a republican from Sioux City, says women might change their mind if they’re given some time to think.Hoversten says the abortion rate has “dropped substantially” in the 15 states which have a 24-hour waiting period for abortions.Representative Mary Mascher, a democrat from Iowa City, says the bill’s unnecessary, as women don’t make the decision about abortion cavalierly. She says it is an insult to the women of Iowa, their families and the physicians of Iowa.Representative Betty Grundberg, a republican from West Des Moines, says the bill flies in the face of public opinion. She says “abortion is a private issue between a woman and her doctor, and government should not be involved.”Governor Tom Vilsack vetoed a similar bill last year.
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