Iowa politicians aren’t done overreaching on reproductive rights

More than 50 years ago, abortion advocates fighting to legalize abortion in Iowa gathered at the Capitol behind closed doors readying to push proposed legislation codifying abortion rights. Within hours, they left the Capitol with their reproductive freedom enshrined in the U.S. Constitution with Roe v. Wade becoming the law of the land.

I’m a lifelong Iowan, but today’s Iowa is unrecognizable. I remember my grandparents beaming with pride, talking about our prized public schools that topped national rankings and purple politics. What we see today — extremist policies that make it downright dangerous to try and grow a family — that's not the Iowa I know and love.

Today, anti-choice politicians control the state. And, with that power, they have decimated reproductive health care in Iowa, leaving thousands without access to essential care. State lawmakers turned down $3 million in federal funds, solely to defund Planned Parenthood from its family planning program, despite it being the largest provider. The replacement program has seen an 83% drop in participation.

These same politicians chipped away at age-appropriate, medically accurate sex education when it again defunded Planned Parenthood, this time for its sex education programming, which follows state curriculum requirements. A medically unnecessary 24-hour waiting period for abortions followed. Throughout all of this, lawmakers were hellbent on passing a law to ban abortion at about six weeks. And after seven years, their efforts became successful.

Make no mistake. These politicians are far from done in their unpopular overreach into Iowans’ private medical decisions. Groups that backed the law banning abortion as early as six weeks, before many people know they are pregnant, now have their sights set on legislation that would grant personhood to an embryo or fetus and jeopardize fertility treatments like IVF.

Iowans shouldn’t have to travel across state lines to receive essential and often lifesaving health care. Instead, we need to stand united to fight this egregious overreach in state government and demand change. If not for our grandmothers and those who paved the way for us, then for our daughters and generations to come.

That’s why we need to take back control.

The only way to realize change is at the ballot box. And make no mistake — abortion is on the ballot this election through the lawmakers we elect. Not only do they create policies, but they are the only ones with the power to put a constitutional amendment protecting abortion on the ballot.

This fight is far from over. A growing majority of Iowans are with us — 61% of Iowans want abortion to be safe and legal in most or all cases. It’s clear that we are the reproductive freedom majority, and we will not stand idly by as medically unqualified politicians insert themselves into our exam rooms and determine our futures. We are putting the lawmakers who have supported these dangerous and reckless policies on notice. We will not tolerate our freedoms being stolen and we will show up in November. Iowa’s future depends on it.

Mazie Stilwell is director of public affairs for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa.