The legal battle over Iowa’s heartbeat abortion law continued today with a hearing in Polk County District Court. Lawyers for Planned Parenthood and the ACLU are asking a judge to forgo a trial and declare the law unconstitutional. They say it would effectively ban almost all abortions in Iowa … [Read more...]
No push for personhood law expected in next legislative session
Key state policymakers, including Iowa's Republican governor, do not expect to push the 2019 Iowa legislature to pass a ban on all abortions in the state. "I don't have any intention of doing that until we see what happens with the courts," Reynolds told Radio Iowa. In May, Governor Kim … [Read more...]
Democrats question GOP governor’s stand on contraceptive sales
Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has said at her last two debates with Democratic rival Fred Hubbell that she'd support letting Iowa women to buy birth control without a prescription. Democrats held a news conference at the statehouse to question the timing. Senate Democratic Leader Janet … [Read more...]
Reynolds will interview Iowa Supreme Court nominees in late July
Governor Kim Reynolds will interviewed the three women who've been nominated for an opening on the Iowa Supreme Court on July 27. The state Judicial Nominating Commission submitted the three candidates to the governor last week, to replace a justice who is retiring in September. "I do a personal … [Read more...]
Planned Parenthood endorses Fred Hubbell for governor
The Planned Parenthood Voters of Iowa political action committee has formally endorsed Fred Hubbell, the Democratic candidate for governor. "Since the 2016 elections, the Iowa legislature and Governor Reynolds have been on a rampage against out health, against reproductive rights and against our … [Read more...]
Opposing sides react to Iowa Supreme Court’s abortion decision
The opposing sides in the abortion debate here in Iowa are offering predictably opposing views on the Iowa Supreme Court's ruling today that nullified a three-day waiting period for abortions. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds issued a written statement, saying it is not "unreasonable to require … [Read more...]
Hubbell endorsed by NARAL, calls today’s court ruling ‘appropriate’
Fred Hubbell, the Democratic candidate for governor, says the Iowa Supreme Court made an "appropriate" decision today in overturning a three-day waiting period for abortions in Iowa. "The court recognizes that Iowa women under Iowa laws have a right to accessible health care," Hubbell said. … [Read more...]
Iowan on Trump’s US Supreme Court list rebukes Iowa court colleagues
The Iowa Supreme Court justice who's on President Trump's list of potential nominees for the U.S. Supreme Court has written a stinging dissent to today's ruling that overturned the state's three-day waiting period for abortions. Iowa Supreme Court Justice Edward Mansfield wrote that abortion is … [Read more...]
Iowa Supreme Court overturns three-day wait for abortions
The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled a three-day waiting period for women seeking an abortion is unconstitutional. The waiting period was part of a state law passed last year that bans abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy. The 20-week-ban part of the law took effect in May of 2017. Republican … [Read more...]
Groups seeks to block abortion ban exceptions for rape, incest
A group that opposes abortions for pregnant women who've been raped is asking Iowa courts to block the limited exceptions allowed under Iowa's new ban on most abortions. Iowa's new "fetal heartbeat" law is on hold until a different legal challenge is settled that argues the abortion ban is too … [Read more...]