• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Health / Medicine / Iowa House passes bill requiring an ultrasound before an abortion

Iowa House passes bill requiring an ultrasound before an abortion

March 12, 2015 By O. Kay Henderson

Joel Fry

Joel Fry

The Republican-led Iowa House has voted to require doctors to offer women seeking an abortion the opportunity to see an ultrasound image and hear the heartbeat of the fetus. The bill passed on a 57-39 vote after several hours of debate today.

“It is my belief that we are defending two lives here, both a mother and a child,” Representative Joel Fry, a Republican from Osceola, said to open the debate. “…It’s my attempt, my desire to bring to the forefront that one that is often not heard.”

Senator Sharon Steckman, a Democrat from Mason City, opposed the bill.

“I’m tired of the government thinking they need to tell the 1.5 million…Iowa women what to do,” Steckman said.

Representative Sandy Salmon, a Republican from Janesville, voted for the bill.

“The woman will have the opportunity to get more full knowledge about the reality of the unborn baby growing inside her,” Salmon said. “Our hope is that with this knowledge she will choose to honor that baby’s right to live.”

Representative Mary Mascher, a Democrat from Iowa City, argued expanding access to family planning services was a better answer.

“This proposed bill is just another effort by some lawmakers to shame a woman who has made a difficult decision to end her pregnancy,” Mascher said.

Representative Steven Holt, a Republican from Denison, said hearing the heartbeat and seeing the sonogram will help the woman make a “fully informed decision.”

“Movement stops. The heartbeat falls silent. The miracle ends,” Holt said. “Those are the consequences of abortion that should be demonstrated.”

Timi Brown-Powers

Timi Brown-Powers

Representative Timi Brown-Powers, a Democrat from Waterloo, responded: “We’re not the doctor. We’re not that patient. We don’t even know the circumstances. If a woman is raped, Representative Holt, is that really a miracle?”

Critics say the bill will force physicians to perform a more invasive ultrasound as most abortions occur in the early stages of a pregnancy when a traditional ultrasound image cannot be obtained.

The legislation is unlikely to be debated in the Iowa Senate, where Democrats control a majority of seats.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Health / Medicine, News, Politics / Govt, Top Story Tagged With: Abortion, Democratic Party, Legislature, Republican Party

Featured Stories

Finalists chosen for the state’s top burger

Paintings by Clinton woman gain a following in Europe

Iowa deadline for individual income taxpayers moved to June 1

Dialing rules changing for two area codes in Iowa

Assistance available for low income Iowans with overdue rent, utility bills

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Cedar Rapids preparing for big return of sports events

Iowa Games returning with full slate of sports

Iowa’s Garza sweeps national awards

Iowa’s Garza claims three national awards

Iowa’s Jack Nunge to transfer

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2021 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC