DES MOINES — Special interests have been rewarded for their investments in Iowa’s Republican legislative and executive leadership. While a majority of Iowans do not support further restrictions on abortion and 96 percent of people who submitted comments online about the new legislation disapproved, Iowa Republicans voted to approve a six-week abortion ban and Governor Kim Reynolds signed the bill into law while special interest groups were given a front row seat to the bill signing.
Reynolds signed the bill at the Iowa Family Leadership Summit Friday afternoon. Those in attendance at the summit included Family Leader President and CEO Bob Vander Plaats, Fox News Host Tucker Carlson, and six Republican presidential candidates.
“Iowa women deserve the basic human right to bodily autonomy. Kim Reynolds showed how much she doesn’t care about Iowans when she signed a cruel, unpopular abortion bill into law today while she attended a special interest group’s summit. Iowa Democrats will continue to stand with the majority of Iowans who do not want these stricter abortion laws as we work toward regaining reproductive freedom,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart.
What to Know About Iowa’s Six-Week Abortion Ban:
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Kim Reynolds’ six-week abortion ban is currently considered the most restrictive ban in the country.
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60% of Iowans believe that abortion should be legal in most cases.
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85% of Iowans believe abortion should be legal in cases of rape or incest. Even more, 89%, support legal abortion if the pregnant person’s life is in danger.
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The Guttmacher Institute recognizes Iowa as a healthcare desert and estimates more than 310,000 Iowans need publicly funded contraceptive services and supplies. Any further bans or restrictions will exacerbate this lack of care.
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The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology reports that Iowa has the fewest OB-GYN specialists per capita nationwide.
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