Bill requires doctors to give info to women seeking abortion

A bill that cleared a House committee would force doctors to give women information about child support, available medical benefits, and the medical risks before scheduling an abortion. Republican Representative Carmine Boal of Ankeny said it’s a simple concept. She says it’s difficult to think of an area of our lives where we don’t desire more information to make difficult decisions.Governor Tom Vilsack has twice vetoed similar bills that included a 24-hour waiting period before a woman could obtain an abortion. Republican Representative Dan Boddicker of Tipton hopes by taking that controversial part out, Vilsack will sign the bill into law. He says this is a good compromise.Republican Representative Gregory Hoversten of Sioux City voted for the bill. Hoversten is a doctor and he says he’s known patients who use abortion as a form of birth control, and he says that subset of women is who the bill is directed to. Democrat Representative Ro Foege of Mount Vernon voted against the bill.Foege says the bill assumes Iowa woman are at worse stupid or at best not very thoughtful when they seek an abortion. He says women need support at a time when they’re seeking an abortion, not more information.The bill passed the House Human Resources Committee on a fifteen-to-five vote and will next be considered by the full House. Governor Vilsack’s spokesman did not respond to a request for an interview.