Reproductive Justice on the Docket
On Tuesday, the Iowa Supreme Court heard arguments about the future of reproductive justice in Iowa.
At issue is a 6-week abortion ban passed by the Legislature in 2018, an extreme anti-abortion law that would prohibit 98 percent of abortions performed in Iowa. This law was found to be unconstitutional and has never been enforced. The court is reconsidering it now, however, after the U.S. Supreme Court and the Iowa Supreme Court struck down constitutional protections on abortion.
Governor Reynolds kept a close eye on “her court,” taking a front row seat at the proceedings as well as entering the Iowa Supreme Court justices secure private office area prior to the proceedings.
Iowa Senate Republicans pushed the 6-week abortion ban through the Senate in the middle of the night in May of 2018 while most Iowans were sleeping. Here are a few of my comments from the debate.
This session, Senate Republicans are continuing to push themselves into the private exam rooms of Iowa women and children with extreme health care bans while ignoring issues such as: Iowa’s worst-in-the-nation child sex abuse laws, our growing maternal health care crisis, gun violence, nursing homes closures, and Iowa’s #1 ranking for cancer.
As part of Governor Reynolds 1500+ page reorganization bill, Senate Republicans approved getting rid of the Iowa Board of Health. Just a few days later, Senate Republicans passed a bill expanding the state’s Livestock Advisory Board.
Quick Updates
- AG Bird gives sexual assault survivors “the Bird.” AG Bird didn’t campaign on being tough on crime victims, but that’s what she’s doing: Attorney General Brenna Bird, is suspending a program covering emergency contraception for sexual assault victims. Survivors of sexual assault don’t deserve an AG assault on their health care.
- Did you get dumped from the Voter Rolls? The Iowa Secretary of State’s office is sending out “No Activity” notices to registered voters who did not participate in the 2022 general election. If you receive one of these, respond quickly to return your voter status to “Active.” If you get the notice, check the appropriate box, sign your name, and return the pre-paid postcard in the mail. You can always check your voter registration status at VoterReady.Iowa.gov.
- LGBTQ Legal Help. Drake Law School will hold a free LGBTQ+ Legal Clinic at 10 a.m. on April 22. Register here for help with legal name changes, sex designation changes on Iowa birth certificates, powers of attorney, healthcare declarations. The clinic is open to adults and minors (with a guardian present).
- IowaWorks for veterans. Iowa Workforce Development has announced the launch of a new online portal making it easier for Veterans and their families to find a new career in Iowa. The portal connects veterans with one-on-one job search assistance and helps employers locate and hire people with experience in the armed forces.
- April is World Autism Month. Increasing understanding of autism helps everyone gain a better perspective on how people with autism learn, interact, and communicate. Click here for ideas on how to help celebrate Autism Awareness Month.
- Get smart with your money. Money Smart Week is a national public education program coordinated by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to empower people to make better-informed personal financial decisions. Money Smart Week events for 2023 include webinars about family budgeting, debt relief, and employer retirement benefits.
- Don’t miss the Dutchman’s Breeches. Spring is here, and you can make the most of it with the DNR’s weekly woodland wildflower bloom report. This updated list tracks wildflowers in bloom by region – northern, central and southern. (Dutchman’s Breeches are one of the many already blooming across the state.) Peeping wildflowers can be a fun spring activity for kids and is a great way to spend time outdoors as a family. Wildflowers can be found by simply walking, or biking along trails, on a hike through a local or Iowa state park or by just driving slowly along a county road.
This Week in the Capitol
It was Hawkeye Day at the statehouse this week. A special thanks to all of the University of Iowa student government members who came to Des Moines to promote the importance of keeping college affordable for Iowa families and expanding mental health services for students.
