Bolkcom plans bill to block late-term abortion provider

The Senate floor manager of HF 657 that would ban abortions after the 20

^th

week of pregnancy said Tuesday he will introduce his own bill to prevent a Nebraska doctor from opening a late-term abortion clinic in Iowa.

However, Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City, continued to offer no details of how he would block Dr. LeRoy Carhart from opening a clinic in Council Bluffs.

Bolkcom, a pro-choice legislator, said he shares most Iowans' goal of preventing Carhart from opening his clinic.

“What I won't do is endanger a woman's health and safety,” he said. “As the House-passed bill is drafted right now, there's no exception for life of the mother, rape, incest or fetus abnormalities that would prevent the baby from surviving after it's born.”

Bolkcom called HF 657, which passed the House 60-39, a political ploy that constitutional experts say “is blatantly unconstitutional.”

“There's not much point in passing an unconstitutional bill that will only embroil Iowa in an expensive court battle,” he said.

However, Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley, R-Chariton, said Bolkcom's approach doesn't go far enough and suggested Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, is playing his own political games.

“I am deeply disappointed that Sen. Gronstal is continuing to play political games with the vitally important late-term abortion ban by killing the bipartisan legislation and instead allegedly offering a tax bill in its place that could fail to keep our state from becoming a nationwide haven for late-term abortions,” he said.

The debate is not just about keeping one abortionist out of Council Bluffs, McKinley said.

“It is about protecting the innocent lives of unborn Iowans in every community,” McKinley said.

Gronstal is continuing to obstruct a vote on the issue and Senate Republicans will continue to demand an up or down vote on a late-term abortion ban this session, McKinley said.

“We are confident that if Sen. Gronstal opts to listen to the citizens of his district and allows a vote on a late-term abortion ban, it will pass the Senate with strong bipartisan support,” he said.