Articles Tagged: abortion

Payment for nearly 70 sexual assault survivors’ emergency contraception is on hold as Iowa’s Republican Attorney General reviews use of funds.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, the lead plaintiff in an abortion case now before the Iowa Supreme Court, attended Tuesday’s oral arguments after bypassing the public entrance to the Judicial Branch Building and entering the secure area where the justices maintain their private offices.

The possible presidential candidate continued to push a message of “American exceptionalism” and hope and unity in a divisive Republican Party that the’s touted in previous visits to the early nominating state as part of his “Faith in America” listening tour.

Fetal heartbeat law, new flood control funding, and a new Barrel House location

Gov. Kim Reynolds has asked the court to allow a court-blocked 2018 law to go into effect; abortion rights groups argue the law should remain blocked.

Victim advocates are urging Republican Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird to continue allowing the state’s victim compensation funds to cover contraception and abortion care for rape victims, noting a majority of those served by the fund are juvenile victims of sexual abuse.

Iowa lawmakers advanced a bill to fund anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers, fund maternal and rural health care grants and provide state employees paid parental leave.

“As a part of her top-down, bottom-up audit of victim assistance, Attorney General Bird is carefully evaluating whether this is an appropriate use of public funds,” Bird Press Secretary Alyssa Brouillet said in a statement. “Until that review is complete, payment of these pending claims will be delayed.”

Justices will be asked to clear way for ‘fetal heartbeat’ bill

Also, Gov. Kim Reynolds requests E15 waiver; abortion rights advocates lobby at the Capitol

Action unlikely, but leaders want ‘loud and clear’ contrast to GOP

Vice president joins panel in Des Moines, catches a basketball game

Among the bills that didn't survive Friday's “funnel” deadline were those dealing with abortion as the governor’s office and legislative leaders await an Iowa Supreme Court ruling on a “heartbeat” law that would ban abortions after 6 weeks.

Representatives from Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa, as well as people who have experience working in and receiving care from crisis pregnancy centers, said at a news conference Wednesday the proposed $1.5 million increase in funding to the 55 centers in the state would further erode reproductive health care.

Senate Republicans advanced Gov. Kim Reynolds’ sweeping health care bill, but removed a provision that would allow pharmacists to dispense birth control without a prescription.