Iowa House committee approves bill banning late-term abortions

DES MOINES – A bill banning most abortions after the 20

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week of pregnancy won subcommittee approval in the Republican-controlled Iowa House, but doesn't have the backing of all Republican lawmakers.

Three freshmen GOP representative oppose House File 5 because it does not go far enough – it doesn't ban all abortions.

Because HF 5 “does not protect innocent life from conception,” therefore violating Article 1 of Iowa's Constitution,” Reps. Tom Shaw of Laurens, Glen Massie of Des Moines and Kim Pearson of Pleasant Hill said in a statement March 17 after a Government Oversight subcommittee advanced the bill to the full committee. “We do not have the authority to legislate away any unalienable right.”

That raises the possibility of amendments to the bill, which is likely to be debated the week of March 28, to make it more restrictive – possibly to ban all abortions.

However, Rep. Chris Hagenow, R-Windsor Heights, acknowledged the trio “is committed to their position,” but remains confident HF 5 will pass largely unchanged.

“It's hard to predict who's going to file what amendment,” he said. “It is my anticipation that the bill will look very similar to what it does now once it comes to final passage.”

Rep. Janet Peterson, D-Des Moines, the lone Democrat on the three-member subcommittee, raised several questions similar to those raised earlier when the bill was assigned to a Human Resources subcommittee. She objected to moving it to full committee because Hagenow and Rep. Chip Baltimore, R-Boone, were unable to answer her questions about several actions of the bill.

Supporters say the bill is aimed at preventing Nebraska Dr. LeRoy Carthart from opening a clinic in Council Bluffs where he would perform late-term abortions.

A spokesman for Planned Parenthood of the Heartland suggested the bill may not accomplish that.

“It's interesting Nebraska passed this law last year and the particular doctor hasn't left,” said Kyle Carlson. “I don't know that it's accurate to say this bill is going to stop Dr. Carthart from coming here.”

“We're doing as much as we can do to prevent him from coming to Iowa,” Hagenow said. He believes it will prevent Carthart or anyone else from performing abortions after the 20

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week of pregnancy.

Carlson believes Hagenow and others have “alternative motives” for pushing HF 5.

“This is, I think, designed to go to the Supreme Court,” Carlson said, predicting it may be the basis for a challenge to Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling permitting most abortions.

He also pointed out that the proposed law would address a very small number of abortions in Iowa. Last year, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health, six abortions were performed after 20 weeks.

“Women who are 20 weeks pregnant are more likely to want to be pregnant, so something terrible has happened” to lead them to seek an abortion, Carlson said.

Hagenow said the bill will be taken up by Government Oversight when it meets at noon March 23 in Room 103 at the Capitol. If it is approved, it will be eligible for floor debate the following week.