From defunding critical health care providers like Planned Parenthood, to stripping hardworking Iowa women of care though the privatized Medicaid disaster, to passing the most extreme abortion ban in the country, Iowa Republicans, led by Governor Reynolds, consistently put ideology and partisanship ahead of the rights and health of Iowa women.

Republicans in the Iowa State Legislature have decided that they have the power to control women, their bodies, and their health care. Naturally, it would then seem important for women to be at the table and part of the discussion, but, unfortunately, women only account for 23% of the state legislature despite representing 50% of the state’s population.

Last week in Davenport, the Iowa Democratic Party brought together a panel of women legislators, activists, and community members to discuss the challenges Iowa women face trying to access basic reproductive care.

Listen to and read the results below:

On Banning All Abortions:
“You know, we as mothers would of course die for our children. But telling us that we have to die for, you know, a pregnancy that we can’t sustain…that’s incredible insane.”
– Davenport Mom Emilyne Slagle [LISTEN]

On Struggling to Access Care:
“This isn’t some anonymous working poor that we’ll never interact with. It sounds like there are two of us who don’t have insurance here. Medicaid is flirting with me. I make too much, and my spouse doesn’t work enough. So that will go away in a couple months. You can’t tell by looking at someone that they’re, that they’re on this page. It’s all of us.” – Davenport Citizen Sarah Elgatian [LISTEN]

On the Impact of Medicaid Privatization:
State Senate Candidate Marie Gleason: “People aren’t getting the services they need. The providers aren’t getting reimbursed.”

Representative Monica Kurth: “Right. They’re not getting paid. It’s a huge issue.”

State Senate Candidate Marie Gleason: “Right, so it’s kind of like, three strikes, why aren’t they out?”

[LISTEN]

On Funding for Health Care:
“If you care, where’s the money? Don’t just say it to get elected. Let’s see you put the money there. Especially mental health. Especially in Iowa. Especially in Scott County.” – Davenport mom Emilyne Slagle [LISTEN]

On Political Consequences:
“We can send a, a message together that if, if you support these kinds of restrictions in healthcare and in reproductive and sexual healthcare, um you don’t get to have your seat in the Iowa legislature or in the governor’s mansion.” – Planned Parenthood Public Affairs Manager Jamie Burch. [LISTEN]

All of these issues have converged to cause a real crisis in Iowa Falls: It was just announced that Iowa Falls is losing their only provider able to deliver babies partially due to a shortage of OBGYNs capable of delivering babies and women will have to travel another 40 miles away to give birth. The abortion ban that Governor Reynolds signed in to law earlier this year made it impossible to train OBGYNs in the state of Iowa.

The Hospital also cited lack of funds for the cut service because Reynolds’ Medicaid Privatization disaster doesn’t cover the cost of delivery.

Iowa Republicans have put their partisan ideology ahead of Iowa women’s right to obtaining safe, legal health care. Iowans deserve representatives who are fighting for them, and Governor Reynolds and Republicans in the Statehouse are not those people.

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