House Democrats are planning to push to make contraceptives, like the pill, available without a prescription. Representative Lindsay James, a Democrat from Dubuque, says pharmacists in 20 states are able to provide birth control without a doctor's prescription. "Pharmacists especially in rural … [Read more...]
V.P. Harris says Iowa’s on front line in fight for abortion rights
Vice President Kamala Harris visited Des Moines Thursday to talk with Democratic lawmakers and abortion rights advocates. "People around our country are concerned, afraid, confused, desperate, in many ways feeling very alone in terms of what are their options and what are their rights," Harris … [Read more...]
Walgreens will not sell abortion pills in Iowa
Walgreens has announced it will not distribute abortion pills in 20 U.S. states, including Iowa. The move comes after Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and other Republican attorneys general around the country threatened to sue Walgreens if the company sold abortion pills in their states. … [Read more...]
Leader says Iowa court’s ruling essential before considering new abortion restrictions
A Republican leader in the Iowa House says lawmakers need to wait for an Iowa Supreme Court opinion before trying to enact new abortion restrictions. A district court ruling has blocked a 2018 state law to ban most abortions after the sixth week of a pregnancy from taking effect. Governor … [Read more...]
Abortion opponents call for ‘life at conception’ law to ban all abortions
Abortion opponents say it's time for a ban on all abortions in Iowa. Republican Representative Luana Stoltenberg of Davenport spoke at a prayer service in the Iowa Capitol. "My prayer is that Iowa will pass a life at conception bill to protect our most vulnerable and defenseless citizens and our … [Read more...]
Iowa A.G. Bird joins warning about mailing abortion pills
Iowa's attorney general has signaled she would likely join a multi-state lawsuit if major pharmacy chains start selling abortion pills by mail. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird has not issued a written statement of her own, but has added her signature to letters from attorneys general in … [Read more...]
Groups say polls show governor’s top agenda items unpopular
Democrats and progressives say polls show the top agenda items Republican lawmakers plan to pursue in the 2023 legislature are unpopular with Iowans. Matt Sinovic, executive director of Progress Iowa, hosted what he called "The People's Condition of the State" event at the Capitol this … [Read more...]
GOP lawmakers waiting for Iowa court opinion before initiating abortion debate
Republican lawmakers say they're waiting for an Iowa Supreme Court ruling before proposing any new abortion restrictions. House Speaker Pat Grassley says it would be unwise to consider legislation before the court acts. "I want the courts to give us the guidelines that we need to move forward … [Read more...]
District court upholds order blocking Iowa’s ‘fetal heartbeat’ law
A district court judge has ruled that a state law that would ban most abortions is still unconstitutional and the permanent injunction barring it from taking effect remains in place. In 2018, Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill to make most abortions illegal after a fetal heartbeat is detected. … [Read more...]
Reynolds and DeJear meet in only debate of 2022 campaign for governor
Republican Governor Kim Reynolds and Democratic challenger Deidre DeJear outlined diverging paths on taxes, abortion and carbon pipelines during their debate Monday night on Iowa PBS. Reynolds said eminent domain should be "a last resort" for pipelines that would ship carbon out of Iowa ethanol … [Read more...]